Caroline Clark (left) and Alexia Lindsay, both freshman at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, invite the community to join their school in the fight against pediatric cancer on Saturday, March 12, noon to 10 p.m. Students, faculty and area residents will be dancing and playing games for 10 hours straight to raise funds for the Four Diamonds Fund, a non-profit organization that supports pediatric cancer research. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Clark)

by Sue Ann Rybak

Caroline Clark, a freshman at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 W. Willow Grove Ave. in Chestnut Hill, wants local residents and students to put on their dancing shoes to help end pediatric cancer.

SCH's mini-Thon is based on the Penn State Dance Marathon – a 46-hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon to benefit Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, Hershey.

For 10 hours straight SCH students, faculty and local residents will be dancing, lip synching and playing games at the school's mini-Thon, which will be held on Saturday, March 12, noon to 10 p.m.

Clark, 15, said all funds raised will be donated to the Four Diamonds Fund, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end pediatric cancer by providing children treated at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital and their families with a “holistic approach to childhood cancer treatment.”

She said the organization takes “a three-pronged approach by providing medical care, financial and emotional support and pediatric cancer research.”

According to the Four Diamonds Fund, “Cancer kills more children in the United States than any other disease.”

Clark was inspired to plan the event after listening to the father of a four-year-old cancer patient give an emotional speech at a mini-Thon she attended last year.

“I think a lot people would enjoy this event, especially people with young kids,” she said. “Even if people can't come out to the mini-Thon, I would still encourage them to make a donation because cancer is the leading disease killer in children.

“The event is completely student-run and empowers teenagers by showing students how they can get involved and a make a difference outside of the classroom.

“However, this event is not just about raising funds for pediatric cancer research; it's an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate each other and all the little things we take for granted.”

Clark said planning this event has taught her that “When you expand your comfort zone, you can really make a difference in other people's lives.”

Residents can register for $30 at fourdiamonds.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1332. Donations are also being accepted. For more information about Four Diamonds' mini-Thon, go to www.fourdiamonds.org/mini-thon.