Indiana Area Senior High School

Mini-THON 2024: What to expect

By Gabi Isenberg

It’s that time of year again. Mini-THON 2024 is rapidly approaching and IHS Leadership has prepared a fun night for the school on March 21.

Mini-THON is one of the largest school-organized and student-planned events. It is a smaller version of Penn State’s THON, during which students stand for 46 hours to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer. IHS students pay a signup fee and then are drafted to one of the four colored teams. This year’s colors are pink, yellow, green and blue. In the months leading up to Mini-THON, fundraising takes place in the form of change wars, spikeball tournaments, and no phone days. The money raised is donated to the Four Diamonds Foundation to fund research for a cure for childhood cancer. At the end of the night, the total monetary count is revealed in celebration.

On the night of Mini-THON, IHS students have six hours of fun to look forward to. Leadership member and senior Anna Buterbaugh expressed, “We are planning a variety of activities to accommodate for all kinds of fun. Students can expect a wide range of free food, fun games, and lots of entertainment for the night. Our goal is to make it a night to remember. We hope to see everyone there!” Games include volleyball, gaga ball, spikeball, ping pong, cornhole, tug of war, and a variety of relay races. 

[Photo Credit: Gabi Isenberg] “Mini-THON 2024 countdown bulletin board.”

Participants will also experience the luminary walk. During the luminary walk, the floor of the lower commons is lit up with bags in memory of those who have fought or lost their battle with cancer. In addition, students can also expect to witness or participate in the popular hair-cutting and hair-shaving portion of the night. If they wish, students can either shave their head or donate their long hair. Other activities include the hourly song and dance, which will be written, choreographed and led by Leadership Seminar students for the six hours of Mini-THON. 

Food is one of the main attractions of Mini-THON. Leadership member and senior Noah Weigner shared that Wendy’s, Dunkin’, Bob’s Pizza and Dairy Queen are some of the businesses that IHS Leadership is planning on asking for donations of food. All food for the night is entirely free for participants. 

Signups are taking place for Mini-THON 2024 up until the day of the event. IHS Leadership has planned a fantastic night for the school to support an admirable and important cause.

Gabrielle Isenberg
Associate Editor

Gabi Isenberg is a sophomore and second-year reporter for the High Arrow. In her free time she enjoys swimming on the IHS and YMCA swim teams, playing piano, and reading. She hopes to report accurate information for the IHS community.