Football season is a time for competition, rivalry, wins, and losses, but at Penn State University, one of the big events fans look forward to every football season is THON. This event focuses on positively touching the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. THON spreads awareness and raises money for critical cancer research.
Back in 2016, a group of NASH students came to math teacher Mrs. Volpe with a fundraising idea of their own.
“These students were very much into Penn State and heard about mini-thons in schools and decided they wanted to do one,” said Volpe.
With an idea set and sponsors on board, the first North Allegheny TigerThon commenced.
“They did a bunch of things that they had thought of and used my ideas to put together this first dance marathon,” Volpe said, “but it wasn’t as big as what they wanted the first year”.
This wasn’t the case in the following years.
“After that first year, the superintendent at the time and some of the school board members said that they were willing to help us the following year,” Volpe explained.
The Penn State THON, which is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, supports Four Diamonds and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, PA. During TigerThon’s first year, proceeds from the event went to the same organizations. However, before planning the second annual TigerThon, a North Allegheny parent brought a concern to light.
“One of the parents asked why we helping a children’s hospital in the middle of the state,” Volpe said. “Our hospital here does just the same kind of research.”
This statement changed the direction of the TigerThon’s proceeds, which now help local organizations Pennies from Heaven and Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital.
Both organizations–Pennies from Heaven and Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital– aid in cancer research and keeping families together through their child’s critical treatments.
Volpe has since stepped down as the TigerThon sponsor. Under the supervision of NASH math teacher Joy Manesiotis, this year’s captains — seniors Kyra Schmidt, Caileigh Duffy, and Joseph Marquis — are taking charge of organizing fundraising events throughout the year and planning the culminating dance in the spring.
“We basically look over the whole club and manage it, making sure everything runs smoothly,” Marquis said.
Every year a sponsor child is chosen for the event to focus on their story and journey. This year’s sponsor child is Nora Caporali, a seven-year-old cancer survivor from Westmoreland County. In 2018, doctors at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital diagnosed Nora with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after what was originally a checkup on several unusual bruises that were noticed by Nora’s mother. She will be celebrating three years cancer-free this January.
“We took her to the Central vs. NA game, she walked around on the field, and she met the coaches,” Marquis said. “It was a fun time.”
Nora will be the focus of the TigerThon event this year, commending her for the incredibly brave fight she overcame.
A year’s worth of fundraisers will culminate in the TigerThon Dance Marathon near the end of the year.
“We have a bunch of games and activities,” Marquis said. “Last year, we had zumba, Coach Dave Gray, cornhole, and lots of other stuff.”
This event is not only for NASH students attending NASH. All students and families in the district participate and raise money for a noble cause.
The TigerThon Instagram page contains important dates and signup forms. Any and all questions can be directed to Mrs. Manesiotis or the three senior captains.
