by: Ava Hardaway
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and every day young children are faced with the challenge of cancer. At GS, Mini-THON is a way for high school and middle school students to experience a night full of games, music, dances and activities that build up the reveal of the total amount of money donated to the cause.
At GS, Mini-THON has been around since 2015. Mini-THON advisor, Mr. Matthew Boe, has been involved from the start. Each year, Mr. Boe approves different high school seniors to be chosen as leaders of the events involved, leading up to the day of the event.
Mini-THON leaders from left to right: Nick Heinnickel, Adam Dipasquale, Kason Tai and Grant Smith. Photo courtesy of: @gsminithon on Instagram
“I think that in many ways this project is more than a senior project,” Boe said. “The fact that there are individuals at GS that are willing to take on an undertaking of this magnitude, I have the most respect for. This is the first year where we have had all guys, so that is a little bit unique within itself. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with them. Super proud of them to take the torch and continue on with it.”
Students can get involved in Mini-THON in high school as early as freshman year, and even earlier in middle school. Students attend events, volunteer, buy White-Out shirts and donate to a donor drive all to collect money for the final reveal. Not only do students get involved, but the community also joins in with the GS Mini-THON and their fight against childhood cancer.
“I think my favorite part of Mini-THON is the by-products that I believe it creates,” he said. “I think it creates culture here at GS. And by that, I mean students attend the Mini-THON events. Whatever the case might be, students get involved with it in various capacities, but I also love the community feel. The amount of community members that get involved is special. It reiterates how special our community actually is.”
Many fundraisers and events take place prior to the main night itself to raise money and awareness. Mr. Boe became a father earlier last year. His emotions towards a Mini-THON event have forever changed because of his newly born son.
“I don’t know if there is just one event that I love more than another,” he said. “The Donuts with Santa last year was special to me because it was my first year being a dad. That was the first time my son met Santa. Any time I can bring my family to my GS family, that’s a win for me.”
Mini-THON leaders Grant Smith and Kason Tai have been very busy and involved with the events in place. They have taken over Mini-THON with other leaders Adam DiPasquale and Nick Heinnickel. These four are trusted with many responsibilities for overseeing such an important line of events.
“I chose to be a Mini-THON leader because I think no kid should have to fight alone,” Tai said. “Attending the full Mini-THON in March of 2023, made me really want to apply for a leadership spot because I got to see how being a part of this team was a once in a lifetime opportunity to help those in need.”
Around late March every year, Mini-THON is held. Leading up to the event itself, many other events and fundraisers are held to raise money and awareness.
“Our events have been extremely successful so far,” he said. “We started the summer at Twin Lakes by making lemonade for the Arts and Heritage Festival and we had tons of help from the student body of GS.”
As a whole school, Mini-THON has ways for everyone to join in and get involved. Spirit weeks, White-Out game, Mini-Thon t-shirts, out of school fundraisers or events all support the fight against childhood cancer. This is not only an in-school involvement, but also an out-of-school involvement.
Mini-THON takes a lot of time, understanding, fundraising and more importantly, awareness. Students and staff gain a better understanding of what Mini-THON truly is. The senior leaders’ goal is for underclassmen to want to be involved in this event and want to be a future leader.
“Mini-THON is important to me because it stands as a way to help those kids in hospitals receiving the treatment they need,” Smith said. “I decided to be a Mini-THON leader because I saw how hard last year’s group worked to raise that much money for a good cause and I wanted to do the same.”
Finalists from the Mini-THON’s cornhole tournament.
Photo courtesy of: @gsminithon on Instagram
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