Four Diamonds Mini-THON Southern Middle School’s stand for childhood cancer

Mini-THON 2010

SMS Mini-THON 2010 Last year … 120+ SMS students participated Students sang karaoke, competed in team games, heard a band, met a Four Diamonds child & DANCED! The students raised over $11,000 for kids with cancer!

The Story of the Four Diamonds Entering 8th grade in 1972, Christopher Millard was asked to write an essay recounting the experiences of his summer.  However, Christopher’s memories of the past summer consisted only of pain and sickness from battling cancer.

The Story of the Four Diamonds Instead, Christopher wrote a tale of Medieval Times entitled “The Four Diamonds”.  The story follows the heroic young knight Sir Millard on a quest to capture Four Diamonds of Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, & Strength that will defeat an evil sorceress. 

The Story of the Four Diamonds Unfortunately, unlike the valiant Sir Millard, Christopher was unable to defeat the evils of cancer.

The History of the Four Diamonds In tribute to their fourteen year old son, Charles and Irma Millard founded The Four Diamonds Fund. Their dream was to develop a fund to provide financial assistance for children battling cancer at the Hershey Medical Center.

The History of the Four Diamonds Today, thanks to the dream of the Millards, the Four Diamonds Fund provides: Direct Financial Support-for treatment & added family support Nursing-working exclusively with the children Child Life-education and therapy for the children Research-new initiatives to find a cure Social Workers-support exclusively for the Four Diamonds Families

So where does the Four Diamonds Fund get the money to do it all?

Penn State Dance MaraTHON This is the largest charity event in the world run completely by students. Organized & run by over 15,000 student volunteers with 700 dancers, it is the largest organization at Penn State. The dance marathon gives the Four Diamonds Fund 90% of its income.

Penn State Dance MaraTHON Dancers stay on their feet for 46 hours – that’s almost 2 days – to raise money for the Four Diamonds kids. The event takes place at the end of February each year and is held in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State. Since the 1970s, THON has become a national buzz: Penn State students are making a difference in the lives of kids with cancer.

Penn State Dance MaraTHON In 2010, Penn State THON raised $7,838,054! And it’s contagious …

Four Diamond Mini-THONs For years, high schools and middle schools have been holding mini dance maraTHONs of their own. local Mini-THONs Spring Grove Middle School Dover Area High School Eastern York High School Red Lion High School Hanover High School Kennard-Dale High School South Western High School Littlestown High School Hempfield High School

We are proud to present our Mini-THON 2011 line dance!

SMS Mini-THON – Get Involved! BECOME THE STAR OF THON - DANCE! In order to participate, you will need to raise $25 in pledges for the Four Diamonds Fund Once you have raised the money, a registration fee will gain you entrance to the dance At this dance, you will be standing for 7 hours! Once at the dance, there will be games, activities, music, prizes & lots of food and drink!

SMS Mini-THON – Get Involved! But really, why should I participate? to be a part of the largest dance you’ve ever seen have fun & hang out with your friends to win free prizes to help raise money for kids with cancer

SMS Mini-THON – Get Involved! HOW CAN I RAISE MONEY? Ask relatives, neighbors, & friends to donate any money that they can Ask your church or organizations in which you are involved Call businesses and ask them to donate Get a can from Miss S. and ask an adult if you can put it in their office or lunch room

SMS Mini-THON – Get Involved! Next Step (white form) Participant Registration Form/Medical Information Form AND A $10 registration fee (cash or check made out to Southern Middle School) due Tuesday, February 8 At that time, you will received your fundraising envelope & pledge form (colored paper) Mini-THON Rules and Regulations instructs participants on what can be expected ALL PAPERS will be distributed on the way out of the auditorium

Rob & Mara Zomok, a Four Diamonds Family! Please welcome Rob & Mara Zomok, a Four Diamonds Family!

SMS MiniTHON WHO: SMS students WHAT: SMS Mini-THON WHERE: SMS Cafeteria WHEN: Friday, March 4, 2011 12-7 pm WHY: For The Kids (FTK)