"I really have a connection with the cause," said Madison "Maddie" Morgan, 16, who will be a junior this fall at Twin Valley High School (TVHS) when talking about Four Diamonds, a nonprofit organization with the goal of conquering childhood cancer. "I was really motivated to become a part of it rather than sit back and watch."

Maddie is a member of the TVHS Mini-THON club, which raises funds for Four Diamonds. The club's main fundraiser is its Mini-THON, which is a dance marathon modeled after the Penn State THON that raises money for families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Children's Hospital.

Last year, Maddie was the top fundraiser in the club, raising $2,458. As the 2021-22 fundraising overall, Maddie is now in charge of creating, setting up and seeing through all of the club's fundraising events throughout the upcoming school year.

For her dedication to the club and her fundraising efforts, Four Diamonds recently named Maddie as a member of the 2021-22 Mini-THON Student Leadership Council. In her new role, Maddie will serve as an advocate and leader for Four Diamonds and Mini-THON and will be one of the representatives for more than 90,000 students who are part of the organization.

Maddie, who joined the TVHS Mini-THON club her freshman year of high school, applied to be a member of the council after learning about it from Gail Frassetta, a liaison with Four Diamonds. "I didn't think I was going to get it because I haven't had as much experience as people going into their senior year," she noted.

The Mini-THON Student Leadership Council provides feedback and shares ideas with the Four Diamonds staff throughout the school year to help improve the Mini-THON program. Council members also serve as mentors for other Mini-THON leaders and assist in Mini-THON recruitment presentations, among other duties.

Because of the pandemic, many schools, including TVHS were unable to hold their typical Mini-THON event for the 2020-21 school year. Instead, TVHS held a car wash in the high school parking lot on April 27, followed by an abbreviated outdoor Mini-THON from 5 to 8 p.m. on the school's football field. The club also sold Mini-THON T-shirts.

The TVHS Mini-THON club has been able to raise more than $140,000 since its formation in 2014. This year, the students broke their own fundraising record and earned $30,056 by hosting multiple fundraisers, including "Laps for Leukemia," "Dine and Donate" at local restaurants and car washes.

Even though school is not currently in session, Maddie has already held a fundraiser for Four Diamonds, organizing a "Dine and Donate" event at P.J. Whelihan's in Downingtown in July, which raised $300.

Maddie said she is looking forward to being a member of the Mini-THON Student Leadership Council. "I (want to) continue to learn, grow and spread awareness," she stated. "I am extremely appreciative to have this opportunity, and I am excited to see what the future holds for the cause."

For more information about Mini-THON at TVHS, visit http://www.facebook.com/TVHSminithon.