Why do we THON
Ella Rothrock of Saylorsburg loves helping with THON. As a class leader on the THON team she gets to work with the teachers and administrators in planning and carrying out THON events.
Nathan Cunningham is a second grader and a THON leader at PVE. Nathan says he likes knowing that all the hard work pays off when it helps other kids who are sick with cancer.
The third grade class at PVE waits for the big reveal to see just how much money they raised to fight childhood cancer. The kids were treated to a visit from the Penn State Nittany Lion. JUDY DOLGOS-KRAMER/TIMES NEWS
Pleasant Valley Middle School Principal Rocco Seiler says that participating in a Mini-THON gives as much to the students as the students give to children fighting cancer.
The Pleasant Valley School District has been participating in Mini-THON for four years. In the past two years all four of the district’s school have joined.
This year, they hope to raise at least $40,000 for the Four Diamonds “For the Kids” campaign.
“These kids learn philanthropy,” says Seiler. “They learn that the world is bigger than them and that they can make a difference. They see proof that they are making a difference.”
Why do the kids work so hard to make Mini-THONs such a success?
“My grandpa died from cancer, and I never got to meet him,” said eighth-grader Olivia Altman of Saylorsburg. “I do this for those people who die too young, and it’s just not fair that they don’t get to live the lives they were meant to.”
“My great-grandmother died of cancer and it’s unfair that people get cancer and die,” said Kendyl Ramsay. “It makes for a much better story when they get to survive it.”
Altman serves as the president of the Student Government Association and is vice president of the National Junior Honor Society. Ramsay is president of the National Junior Honor Society and Student Government secretary.
Both girls have used their positions to encourage other students to take part in the fundraising for the Four Diamonds fund throughout the year.
At Pleasant Valley Elementary Dean of Student Valerie Rudawski says she couldn’t do what she does without her student leaders, all of whom are in first through third grade.
Even at such a young age these kids are able to get a sense of what they are doing.
“I think I really like knowing that we get to raise money for children who have cancer,” said 7-year-old Nathan Cunningham of Kunkletown.
“We love doing what we do for the kids,” said Ella Rothrock of Saylorsburg. “We do it to help the kids to help them to get better.”
Pleasant Valley will hold a Community Reveal at 2:30 p.m. today in the new gym at the high school. All are invited
