Submitted photo
Mifflin County High School students hold up numbers revealing how much money was raised at last year’s Mini-THON.

LEWISTOWN — When Halle Hertzler hears that Penn State’s annual THON fundraising event raised a record $17.7 million for pediatric cancer research, she gets a little starry-eyed from all of the zeroes.

Hertzler, a Mifflin County High School senior, hopes the school’s Mini-THON can make an impact on a much smaller scale.

“I’ve been involved with our school’s Mini-THON for a couple of years now, but this is my first year taking on the role of a president,” Hertzler said.

More than 700 dancers spent 46 consecutive hours in Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center to raise money for the fight against childhood cancer.

“Although I have not been to THON at Penn State yet, I really enjoy keeping up to date with their success every year,” Hertzler explained.

“I got involved in Mini-THON because I think the cause is wonderful and unique,” Hertzler added. “There really aren’t any other student-run organizations that involve raising money to help children fight cancer. I think I speak on behalf of our whole club when I say we are all very proud of the impact we make in our community and state.”

Mifflin County’s big Mini-THON event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 14. The evening celebration for the school’s student body features lots of activities and sports tournaments as well as a community hour for the public. The highlight of the night will be the grand total amount revealed at 8:30 p.m.

Last year’s Mini-THON efforts raised $25,071.90. This year’s goal is set at $30,000.

Mini-THON organizers started holding events in the fall with Gold Out nights at a football game and continued them throughout the winter sports season.

They worked tirelessly to increase student participation by helping to gain an understanding of the importance of the cause, which is “For The Kids.”

“We have done gold-out themes at a game for almost all of our sports teams so far and the student participation has been great,” Hertzler said. “We have had certain students on the wrestling and football sports teams get involved in contests because of the money we have raised at gold-outs, and the student body has enjoyed watching those as well.”

For those like Hertzler, who is certainly dedicated to the cause, the most rewarding part of the campaign has been seeing the community and students come together for a cause.

“Mini-THON is the club that advocates for the fight against childhood cancer, but it is really the community and student body that contribute to our total amount of money raised each year,” Hertzler added. “Mifflin County is one of the most generous and supportive communities a person can be a part of, so we couldn’t be successful without them.”

The Gold Out at Mitchell Field raised more than $3,000 alone. “This was the most money we have ever raised in a gold-out event,” Hertlzer said.

A spaghetti benefit dinner in the fall also proved to be another successful fundraiser, bringing in more than $1,000.

Mini-THON members also solicited businesses across Mifflin County, asking for donations and sponsorships. “This is usually where a big chunk of our funds raised come from and we are so thankful for that,” Hertzler said.

Like their counterparts at THON, the Mifflin County group hopes to hold some big numbers during their upcoming reveal.