Even though school was not in session, members of the Twin Valley High School (TVHS) Mini-THON club were still busy this summer with fundraising activities to benefit Four Diamonds, a nonprofit organization with a mission to conquer childhood cancer.

The most recent fundraiser was a car wash held on Aug. 25 at the Twin Valley Elementary Center in Elverson. Visitors were asked to make a donation to the charity in return for a free car wash. Club volunteers and Lance Chappelle, Mini-THON club adviser, were on hand to wash cars.

Ashley Siv, who is the club overall and was selected for the 2024-25 Mini-THON Ambassadors program, reported that Chappelle and the students washed more than 30 cars during the event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"We raised $1,108 from the car wash, which is the most we have ever raised from a car wash before," said Ashley. "We are having our next car wash on Harmony Day in Honey Brook on Sept. 21." Club members will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to wash cars for a donation at the Honey Brook American Legion, 4820 Horseshoe Pike (Route 322,) Honey Brook.

Earlier this summer, the club held pickleball nights on June 20 and July 22. "In June and July, we had pickleball fundraisers at the high school tennis courts," Ashley noted. "People paid an entry fee and there was a doubles and a singles tournament. The winners received Chick-fil-A gift cards."

She said pickelball night was a first-time event, and each installment featured the tournaments as well as open play for people of all skill levels. "The first time (in June) we had about 40 participants," Ashley said. "It was mostly adults because a lot of them are in actual pickleball leagues. We also had open play, so if people didn't want to do the tournament, they could play against other people there."

Next up for the club will be the Gold Out football game, scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13, when TVHS plays Eastern Lebanon County High School at 7 p.m. "At the game, we will run the snack stand, and we will have a Mini-THON Minute during halftime. We will go around with cans and get as many donations as we can in that one minute," Ashley explained. "We design shirts, and we sell them to the students during school, so they can wear them in the student section (at the game). And, if there are any left over, we will sell them at the game. We will also have some youth sizes there."

The main fundraiser of the student-run club is its Mini-THON. The dance marathon is modeled after the Penn State THON, which raises money for families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Children's Hospital. This school year's event is set for Friday, April 25, 2025, from 5 to 11 p.m. This will be TVHS' 10th year participating in the event.

The TVHS club not only meets its goals, but also continually surpasses them. During commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2024, TVHS principal Bill Clements reported that the club raised more than $61,000 during the 2023-24 school year, which was an increase from $53,000 raised in the 2022-23 school year.

For more information about the club and its activities, visit http://www.facebook.com/twin.valley.313. Those with questions may email Chappelle at LChappelle@tvsd.org.