Hempfield Area Mini-Thon is back for year four with the theme, Be a Hero! A hero, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”, but it is so much more than that. Heroes are those who make a difference each and every day.
This is the goal of this year’s Hempfield Area Mini-THON. While not only wanting to surpass last year’s total, the team also wants to intercede for those who are engaging in the fight against cancer. Over the past three years, Hempfield Area Mini-THON has collectively raised $186,706.63 with the 2025 total: $67,589.64 surpassing priors years. Each dollar raised goes towards the fight, and the class of 2026 has been inspired to add to this growing number. “Our goal this year is to push everyone to go above the bare minimum because the kids need it” says the team’s social media advisor, Nico Kapusta.
Mini-THON is a year-long fundraiser that culminates with a 12 hour version of Penn State’s 24 hour THON, where students engage in activities and dance for a cure. Created by Four Diamonds who covers 100% of Cancer related medical expenses, the organization has helped more than 4,800 children and their families.
September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month where we recognize children and their families who are fighting this trying disease, support research, and raise awareness. Instead of our typical gold out game however, this year, Mini-THON members have teamed up with Student Council to participate in the biggest game of the season: Homecoming on September 26. With their linking theme of heroes, students prepare to inspire and be inspired by our Hempfield Area School District Community.
Mini-THON has become about more than just raising funds, it’s about coming together as a class to make a difference. Mrs. Ashley Testa, teacher and advisor says, “this is so much more than a fundraiser; it’s an opportunity for students to come together, to stand for something bigger than themselves, to work collectively to achieve a goal, and to watch others thrive in the face of the ultimate challenge.”
Testa has been spearheading this event with student administrators for four years and says she is never worried about the total raised, but more so, about the lessons learned and the experiences had along the way. “This is a year long endeavor,” she says, “if student raise $1, that’s one more dollar that will aid in this fight. I’m always impressed with the astronomical dollar amount, of course, but more I am impressed by the character development and the impact made by a group of high school students.”
In the past few years, Hempfield student, Alex Vucish, together with his mother Jessica, and graduate, Jamie Hague, along with other community members have shared their battles with pediatric cancer. These stories showcase who the true heroes are- those engaged in the fight. Hearing about these Hempfield Area experiences makes students recognize that this battle is not far from home.
This year’s admin team is made up of eight seniors: Abby Harvey, Hailey Uhrinek, Hannah Goldsmith, Cooper Santangelo, Mallory Bitar, Nico Kapusta, Ainslee Bailey, and Lauren Howard, (pictured above). With early registration open, the class of 2026 is already creating teams and coming together. Our main event won’t take place until March 27, 2026; until then, community members can get involved by sponsoring a team, participating in events, contributing to our main event with food and drink, or donating to our Donor Drive: https://fourdiamonds.donordrive.com/hahsminithon
Fighting this battle alone is no easy feat, but as a community, we can come together in order to stand heroically for those who can’t.
