UHS Recognizes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month takes place every September, honoring the children and families affected by this disease. In the United States, more than 290 children are diagnosed with cancer every week, making cancer the leading cause of death by disease among children and adolescents in our country. While awareness can come from many different places, students and schools across the country have found ways to raise awareness through fundraising and community involvement. Unionville High School has participated in raising awareness for childhood cancer for years, beginning with the creation of UTHON. UTHON is a Unionville Club where students raise awareness and funding through community events, school spirit days, sports games, and many other activities.

During almost every spirit week at school, UTHON makes sure to have a blue and gold day, where students wear gold shirts sold by Unionville to honor children battling cancer and show their support for their families. However, the work done by UTHON is part of a much larger effort. Penn State THON is a student-run organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of Four Diamonds children and families affected by cancer. The organization is committed to providing emotional and financial support through various initiatives and has raised more than $254 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital.

For Unionville students, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is more than a month to learn more about childhood cancer. It gives students a chance to participate directly in fundraising and awareness events while also recognizing the meaningful work they do to support the community. Tiffany He, a high school senior shared that she “loves the fundraising aspect of UTHON because it gives students a way to make difference.”

Overall, this month shows that raising awareness can start within a school community and grow into a much larger effort, such as Penn State’s THON, to support children and families affected by cancer.