Pleasant Valley High School’s mini-Thon brought in $15,158.58 for pediatric cancer research last weekend. The event was organized by the Leo Club and members of the PVHS Dance Team.

“As a co-adviser, I am very proud of the amount raised; we made our $10,000 goal,” said Amanda Altemose, a PVHS English teacher and co-adviser of the Leo Club with Susanne Rasely-Philipps.

Senior Danielle Boland, a president of the club, said, “The theme ‘Glow for a Cure’ truly embodied the idea that we are utilizing the light to find a cure. I am also so ecstatic we raised the most money this year out of my four years of high school.”

Boland has been involved in mini-Thon since her freshman year. She got involved because her grandfather had cancer and she wanted to help fund finding a cure.

“No child should have to go through the battle of cancer,” she said.

Junior Sienna Pierce, who serves as secretary of the club, said, “I am so proud of how it turned out this year. Surpassing our goal of $10,000 is such a great accomplishment, and I am so appreciative of all the hard work that went into it.”

The top students donors were:

• Antonio Adorno (sophomore) — $1,455.

• Brooke Greene (senior) — $1,285.

• Bryn Smith (senior) — $545.

• Jeneria Williams (senior) — $502.

• Abigail Dominick (senior) — $500.

• Brielle Halamar (freshman) — $500.

• Danielle Boland (senior) — $500.

All seniors who raised at least $500 earned a Four Diamonds Mini-Thon graduation cord, Altemose said.

In addition to Boland, the senior officers are Brooke Greene, Dominic Balzano and Brady Cerrone. Junior officers are Emily Heckman, Areli Rameriz, Finnegan Sheard and Pierce.

The Leo Club has 35 members, and nine Dance Team members helped with the planning.

“I think we really pulled everything together very nicely, and I’m so proud of the difference we were able to make,” junior Emily Heckman said

Heckman has been involved in mini-Thon for three years.

“Since I want to work with children in the future, getting involved in THON felt like the perfect way to support kids and their families, while also growing my leadership skills,” she said.

In all, there were 174 students who came out for the 12-hour event, Altemose said. Participants started arriving around 6:30 p.m. Saturday and the event officially started at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at the high school. It ran through the night and came to a close at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Altemose said they didn’t need a DJ; Dominic Balzano created a 12-hour playlist that played throughout the night.

The PVHS Dance Team, coached by Holli Freeman, choreographed and performed at the beginning of the event. They also choreographed a line dance for the students to do each hour of the event, Altemose said.

“This is a tradition that is directly related to Penn State’s THON,” she said. “I personally had a great time. It is always awesome seeing students get excited to dance, play various games, and enjoy dinner and breakfast from two local businesses.”

Spinelli’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Brodheadsville provided 80 pizzas, and Bagel Experience in Brodheadsville made 200 bagels, she said.

“Honestly, it is an event where students can hang out with their friends and celebrate the fact that they raised money to participate in a bigger cause to beat childhood cancer and support Four Diamonds,” Altemose said.

Four Diamonds is an organization dedicated to raising money to fight pediatric cancer and is the founder of the Penn State THON.

Junior Areli Ramirez is proud of the work they did and looks forward to next year.

“I know that when taking on a big school event like this, there comes a lot of planning, and I know that next year that me and my co-presidents, Emily Heckman and Sienna Pearce, will have much fun planning and overcoming any challenges,” Ramirez said.