Phoenixville Students Aim to Raise $10k with Mini-THON

Taking the lead from Penn State, a group of students at Phoenixville Area High School have organized their own dance marathon to benefit the families of children afflicted with pediatric cancer.

If all goes as expected, the 12-hour marathon, scheduled for February 8 in the high school gymnasium, will raise $10,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund—a Hershey-based cancer support group that helps defray expenses insurance doesn't cover.

“We’re looking to get about 200 kids there,” said PAHS student Kyle Kobilka, who along with Savannah Mudd (profiled here by Patch), Karlyn Small, Alex Monteiro. Kendall Kobilka, Alyse Phillips, and dozens of other Phantoms, is planning the event.

“There’s lots of interest,” he added.

Kobilka said the idea started with Small, a junior class member who also serves as student liaison to the school board.

“He wanted to bring a mini-THON to our school. I thought it’d be a great idea to raise money for a great cause.”

Kobilka added that while a majority of the donations will come from the students themselves—each dancer has to raise $75 to get on the floor—he is also looking for gifts from local businesses and district residents.

Anyone interested in making a donation can send an email to pahsminithon@gmail.com to get started.