Red Raider Mini-THON raises more than $11,000
Cutline – Members of the Meyersdale Area High School National Honor Society Chapter, including Layken Mostoller, Lakyn Roadman, Emily Rosenberger, Riley Whitfield, Lindsey Roberston, Dan Yoder, Devin Kretchman, Jaden Ceretta, Gavin Hetz and Emma Shearer, chapter President, are proud to announce Mini-THON 2020 raised $11,180.36 to support the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. In just five years, Mini-THON has raised $45,926.52 to help fight pediatric cancer – “For the Kids (FTK)”! The group set a fundraising goal of $11,000 for 2020 and, with the help of the students, faculty, staff and community, were able to meet and exceed that impressive goal.
With the help of the students, faculty, staff and community, and business sponsors, members of the Meyersdale Area High School chapter of National Honor Society have met exceeded their goal of raising $11,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital! In fact, NHS raised $11,180.36 “For the Kids” (FTK). Since becoming a Mini-THON school five years ago, the Meyersdale NHS has raised $45,926.52 for the Four Diamonds Fund.
For chapter President, Emma Shearer, meeting this goal was both a personal and school-wide goal.
“I was confident we would meet our goal, but we are very proud to have exceeded that goal,” she explained. “We would not have been able to achieve this goal without the support of the school district and the community. People really supported our plan to raise money For the Kids.”
Shearer said the NHS held several events in the months leading up to Mini-THON, including a dodgeball tournament and a coin drive. Members of NHS also attended Fall and Winter sporting events to seek donations or to “can” from those in attendance. Members also visited businesses in Meyersdale, Salisbury, and Somerset to seek donations. These efforts, in addition to the three Mini-THON dances held for the high school, middle school and elementary schools, proved to be most successful. In addition to raising more than $11,000, NHS students also raised awareness of pediatric cancer. Every school day, 43 children are diagnosed with cancer. Funds raised through the Red Raider Mini-THON fund research for pediatric cancer, medical treatment for those children, and support for their families.
“Helping plan and organize THON was so rewarding,” Shearer said. “Not only did it help me with my time management and organizational skills, it helped me to become a better person. You can’t help but think of the kids facing cancer and to know what we are doing is helping them is a great feeling.”
According to NHS advisor, Mrs. Jessica Deakins, the generosity of business donors allowed their organization to exceed their goal. “The willingness of area businesses to contribute to the cause was truly inspiring. Knowing that so many people in our county support their efforts to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund encouraged members to work relentlessly to reach their goal. I am so grateful for that support and for the united effort of everyone at MASD K-12 to raise so much money for such a worthy cause.”