Pennsylvania students raise $6.48 million to support families and research for childhood cancer
Students participating in Four Diamonds Mini-THON events raised a record $6.48 million this school year to support families of children with cancer and fund pediatric cancer research.
Students celebrate their fundraising impact
The announcement was made this morning during the annual Mini-THON Leadership Summit at Hershey Lodge, where hundreds of students and teachers gathered to celebrate their impact.
The funds raised support Four Diamonds, which helps families of children with cancer cover expenses not paid by insurance while also funding pediatric cancer research.
Honoring a child’s legacy through Mini-THON
A mother who lost her son to childhood cancer shared her thoughts on honoring his legacy.
“I would tell him we’re doing okay. That even though he left us, we still love him and we’re doing okay,” Greta Bomgardner said. “Being able to come and talk to high school students about not only Gus, but what this is, and giving them a reason to continue fighting, and a little bit of knowledge as to why they need to continue fighting is just one way that I can honor his legacy, and we can hopefully raise the money we need to find better treatments and better cures so our kids stop dying.”
Schools and organizations across Pennsylvania and beyond host their own Mini-THON events leading up to the main fundraiser at Penn State’s main campus in February.