On Sunday, Jan. 26, Manheim Township’s Mini-THON hosted its 14th annual Mini-THON showcase. Since 1972, Mini-THON and Four Diamonds have dedicated their organization to raising money for cancer stricken children and their medical bills and for childhood cancer research in order to diagnose, prevent and possibly cure childhood cancer. Many groups around the country, such as schools, universities and businesses have supported Mini-THON through major fundraising events. For the past 15 years, Manheim Township has been a part of this mission by creating their own fundraising events that are interactive and fun for students, their families and the Manheim Township community.
The showcase was a way for sports teams and Mr. Mini-THON members who donated to the cause to show off their talents and create various skits. The hosts of the showcase, seniors Simon Bowen and Jack Commerce, introduced each group or individual through comical remarks, and the judges, Mr. Broderic, Mr. K. Kantz, Mr. W. Kantz and Mr. Wagner, judged each group or individual’s show through comical remarks and jokes as well. The Manheim Township Dance Team worked with and created dances for the sports teams who raised money for the cause. The teams who participated in the event included the dance team, Live 4 Lucian club, girls tennis, football, cheerleading, girls and boys soccer, field hockey, boys and girls cross country, swimming and diving, wrestling, girls and boys lacrosse, softball, baseball and track and field. Lex Haberbosch, Simon Bowen, Liam Lingenfelter, Jack Reynolds, Thomas Capizzi, Spencer McClintock, JP Gonzalez, Jack Pfitzenmaier, Terrell Russell, Charlie Hill, Blayke Alaimo, Leighton Underwood and Nick Rockwell were the Mr. Mini-THON members who also participated in the event by doing skits or showing their talents to the audience.
The sports teams and the Mr. Mini-THON members were judged separately based on performance and fundraising. For sports team fundraising, in third was girls and boys lacrosse, in second was the dance team and in first was swimming and diving, who raised a total of $3,740. For Mr. Mini-THON fundraising, in third was Nick Rockwell, second was Leighton Underwood, and first was Jack Reynolds, who raised a total of $3,970.
For sports team performances, girls cross country came in third, in second was swimming and diving, and in first was softball. For the Mr. Mini-THON performances, in third was the Four Amigos performance by Thomas Capizzi, Spencer McClintock, JP Gonzalez and Jack Pfitzenmaier, in second was the drumming performance by Jack Reynolds, and in first was the Dirty Dancing reenactment by Leighton Underwood and Nick Rockwell. In total, the showcase raised around $34,000, which is the most Manheim Township Mini-THON has ever raised for this event.
The Mini-THON main event will be on Feb. 28 from 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. for all high school students who raise a minimum of $60 in hopes of reaching the club’s goal of $90,000. Information for registration can be found in the Class of Pages on Schoology and donations to the event can be done on https://fourdiamonds.donordrive.com.
