EXETER — What started as an idea to replicate Penn State University’s annual THON has quickly become a reality for Wyoming Area Secondary Center students.
After four months of hard work and fundraising, the “WA March Madness: Dancing For a Cure” event is only one month away and students have been working tirelessly to prepare.
“We’ve done a lot of planning,” said ninth-grade student Luke Coolbaugh, 14. “But, it’s all going to be worth it.”
The THON event will be held from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday, March 18 at the Secondary Center and the proceeds will go towards Four Diamonds for pediatric cancer research.
English teacher Anthony Macario said it’s crunch time for him and the students.
“The main thing now is ironing out all the details for the event,” he said. “Getting as many people there as possible, and having it as organized as possible, which I feel we’re in a better spot now than where we were a month ago.”
According to its website, Four Diamonds was started in 1972 by Charles and Irma Milliard in honor of their son, Christopher, who died at the age of 14 from cancer.
Since its creation, Four Diamonds has helped more than 3,700 children and families and supported a diverse platform of childhood cancer research.
According to Macario, the “WA March Madness: Dancing For a Cure” will be open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m., after which only Secondary Students will be permitted to participate.
Activities will include dancing, carnival-style games, basket raffles, a balloon release and more.
To get ready for the event, students raised money through various fundraising events such as dress down days, themed school dances, t-shirt sales, in addition to other events in the coming weeks.
Students have currently raised close to $13,800 which will be added to what the THON event makes.
“The only thing is with that is we haven’t paid for our t-shirts yet and some other things,” Macario said. “But, we’re anticipating at this point, at the very least, we’ll be making $10,000 by the time all is said and done.”
Businesses owners donated money in exchange for having their business logo printed on THON t-shirts or banners, but to do that, some students, such as eighth-graders Jason Wiedl, 13, and Michael Branley, 14, had to do some convincing.
“We rode our bikes around the neighborhood going from business to business until about 5:00 every day,” said Branley. “We probably, in one day, went to 10 businesses. Most that we went to donated $250, and most of them we knew personally so that helped. Some were a little iffy on donating, so we had to persuade them.”
Coming up in the calendar of events for more fundraising are another dress down day at the Secondary Center, a “Pie the Teachers” day, and a restaurant night where 15 percent of the proceeds will go towards the THON.
With one month until “WA March Madness: Dancing For a Cure,” students are eager to see their hard work pay off.
“I look forward to seeing the total amount of money we raised in the end,” said eight-grade student JT Gober, 14.
