Thanks for taking the time to check out ETHON'09!

            The purpose of this event is to raise money and awareness for the Four Diamonds Fund. The Fund was started in honor of Christopher Millard, who died of pediatric cancer. The Fund today uses the money to help defray the cost of care for families that have children with cancer. They also fund research for better and more efficient treatments. (Check out the http://pennstatehershey.org/web/fourdiamonds/home website to get more information.)

            The difference you can make for a family suffering through pediatric cancer is amazing. A chemotherapy treatment for an outpatient procedure is estimated to be $152.53 per dose, and $185.39 for inpatient treatment, for just one dose! A typical treatment regime requires multiple chemotherapy sessions, in addition to radiation treatments. The cost of travel and inpatient stays also adds to the bill. However, you simply have to donate 12 hours of your time, to have fun, and get sponsors—in order to make a difference.

            As a participant you are charged with raising money in order to help a child with cancer. The Goal for this year is 10,000.00 dollars. The number may look intimidating as you read it now, alone, but realize that with 100 individuals participating each only needs to raise 100.00 dollars to reach our goal! So get out there and raise $100 or more!

            In order to raise money once you get your team together you can come up with fundraisers to do on campus. Get a table at Homecoming and sell something! You can also use fall break to visit you neighbors back home to ask for donations. Explain that "Cancer never rests" and you won't either for one night. You will be on your feet, wide awake, for 12 hours unable to stop, sit-down, or sleep (although there will be lots to eat!). With this said you can ask them to sponsor you for an hour. If you can find 12 people (1 per hour) and get each to sponsor you with $10.00, you will have surpassed our goal!

            This year we are also adding ConKerr Cancer to our charity donations. Check out http://www.conkerrcancer.org/ to learn more. They are an organization that makes colorful and fun pillowcases for kids undergoing cancer treatments. Throughout the night we will be making pillow cases and sending them off to the kids after the event.

            The event will be held on November 7^th-8^th from 7pm to 7am in the Thompson gym. Registration is $10 before the week of October 19 after which the cost raises to $15. This is to cover the cost of the team t-shirts, goodie bags, and food for the evening. We will have prizes for the individuals that raise the most money and a team prize for the team that raises the most money and gets the most points throughout the night. We will have a raffle that all students can participate in and will be drawing for winners throughout the night. In addition we will hold a Pie-Your-Professor Auction at 11pm where you can bind for your professor in order to pie them in the face! The night will also consist of bands, student group shows, and a live DJ. We will also have games like relay races, ultimate twister, capture the flag, sports events, and team games! It will be a jam packed night filled with fun and stuff to do!

We hope to see you all there in order to have fun and make a difference in a child’s life!