Springfield students raise $250K to help fight cancer
$250,000 raised in battle against cancer
For the past 14 years, Springfield High School has held THON. It is sometimes called mini-THON in relation to the event at Penn State University, which established the dance marathon to raise funds for the Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center.
There is nothing mini about what the SHS students and Springfield and Morton communities did in the 15th iteration of the Steve Stefani Dance Marathon (SSDM). The charity fundraiser is held each year to honor the memory of the beloved Springfield High teacher.
After months of organizational work by the leadership team, and the actual 15 hours of dancing, games and warding off fatigue by more than 700 students, the big reveal was made: THON raised $250,347.57.
SHS is one of the largest mini-THONs in the state, now having exceeded $1.8 million overall. The purpose, raising funds for pediatric cancer research and care, is clearly understood by all participants. It turns up on the THON T-shirts, posters and often on faces. FTK is For the Kids.
The student leadership team consisted of 15 seniors and two juniors with Emily Barber as chairperson. The “captains” took on such categories as technology, merchandise, communication and dance. John Gildea serves as the critical lynch pin of faculty advisor, choosing and steering the leadership team, most of who have participated in THON all four years of high school.
Senior Brooklyn Vaughan was the technology captain, coordinating videos, pictures and materials for promotional and archived use. She said her THON work is great experience as she plans to attend Temple University as a Broadcast Journalism major. But Vaughan well understood the larger meaning.
“This is about being part of something bigger than yourself. All the work and fundraising can be one step closer to finding a cure for pediatric cancer,” Vaughan said.
Fellow senior Ganisha Sharma was the merchandise captain, using her interest in fashion and business, as well as part time work in retail, to great advantage.
“There are a lot of people skills, plus keeping a schedule to know when to place orders, what will be popular items and I also created designs,” said Sharma. “I’ve never been part of a community organization this big. It’s amazing how a bunch of teenagers can reach so many people and raise so much money.”
THON is an aggregate of many fundraising events in school and around the communities. Individuals and businesses have supported this cause for 15 years. This may be due to a number of factors, not the least of which is that many—if not most—individuals have been touch by cancer in some way. Those attending THON routinely cite the most impactful part of the evening as the hour when families share their personal stories of battling the cancer of their youngsters. This year, their peer, Michael Komar, and his family are in students’ minds and hearts, as he faces recurring brain cancer.
The benefits of THON reach beyond substantial dollars raised. Parents see their children grow in social awareness as well as direct skills, and family participation is very common. Business involvement forges partnerships with the school district. As School Director Bruce Lord said, it is something of which the entire community can be proud.
It will not be long before Gildea starts the search for his next leadership team, knowing THON is not one 15-hour night. But he, too, has a broader and more ambitious vision. In the suddenly empty and quiet Blue Gym, he was asked what he foresees for THON’s future. He was silent for what seemed a long time.
“Hopefully there is no future,” Gildea began. “Hopefully there is a cure.”