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Fall is a season full of school traditions, community events and opportunities to bring people together. For Mini-THON® schools, these activities can also support a meaningful mission: conquering childhood cancer.Across Pennsylvania, Mini-THONs are finding creative ways to make fall fundraisers engaging for students, families and local businesses. From a kids’ night out to a school sporting event

When a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer, their whole world changes. Treatment can mean frequent hospital visits, procedures, medications and time away from the routines of childhood. Families also face emotional and financial challenges that extend far beyond the hospital.At Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, Four Diamonds removes many of the barriers that make childhood cance

There are moments in life that divide everything into a before and an after. A childhood cancer diagnosis is one of them. Familiar rhythms of everyday life give way to appointments, treatments and an uncertain road ahead. Family, friends and communities rally early, offering comfort, support and encouragement. But as the world continues moving, that initial outpouring of support can begin to fade.

Pediatric cancer research is the organized, clinical and scientific study of cancers affecting infants, children and adolescents. It’s important because it has helped improve the survival rates for childhood cancer significantly. However, pediatric cancer still claims the most lives among disease-related deaths for children and adolescents. More work is needed to reduce the damage it causes to chi

New initiative will provide year-round donor funding and sustained support to children conquering childhood cancerHERSHEY, PA – Four Diamonds today announced a new program designed to fuel steady, dependable funding for groundbreaking research, superior care and comprehensive support for eligible children and families facing childhood cancer.The Four Diamonds Champions program was built on the bel

Five-year-old Presley is full of life, bringing her joyful energy to each day even as she undergoes treatment for a Wilms tumor.She loves being outside, riding her bike, swimming in the pool and making crafts. Curious and energetic, she recently started learning to read and is always on the move. Like most children her age, she fills her days with play, adventure and discovery.Just a few months ag

Five decades of partnership. More than $273 million raised. One shared mission: conquering childhood cancer.Four Diamonds and Penn State THON™ recently gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to celebrate 50 years of partnership and the incredible impact of generations of students, volunteers and supporters who have come together For The Kids®.WGAL News 8 featured the celebration, highlighting

Penn State THON and Four Diamonds celebrate 50 years of partnership and its impact on pediatric cancer care and researchHARRISBURG, PA – Penn State THON™ and Four Diamonds marked 50 years of partnership and more than $273 million raised for pediatric cancer care and research with a gathering at the Pennsylvania Capitol during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.“I believe that THON is a movement. It’

A gift to Penn State Athletics’ Stadium Revitalization Project recognizes the mission and impact of Four Diamonds and Penn State THONHERSHEY, PA — Four Diamonds and Penn State THON™, philanthropic partners in the fight to conquer childhood cancer, are proud to announce that the two organizations will now have permanent recognition in Beaver Stadium at Penn State. Made possible by an anonymous gift

Four Diamonds child Cayden and Dr. Maxime Caru recently joined FOX43 to showcase the Pediatric Cancer Physical Activity Program at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital and how movement is becoming an important part of care for children facing cancer.Supported by Four Diamonds, the program uses individualized movement, games and strength-building exercises to help children stay active thr

When 13-year-old Daisy began experiencing severe leg pain, fatigue and frequent illnesses, cancer was the last thing on her mind.“There’s always that little thing in the back of your head, like, ‘What if this is something bad?’” Daisy recalled. “But you don’t think it is. You think, ‘That couldn’t be me, right? Other people get cancer.’”But it was cancer.Daisy was diagnosed with high-risk acute ly

The sound of a bell ringing through a hospital hallway can feel like a period at the end of a very long sentence. Treatment. Blood counts. Scans. Hospital stays. Fear. Uncertainty. And then, finally: We made it. But for many childhood cancer survivors, the bell isn’t a period. It’s a comma. Because surviving cancer doesn’t always mean leaving it behind. The physical and emotional effects of childh

Hyundai Hope on Wheels has awarded a $400,000 Scholar Hope Grant supporting Dr. Sinisa Dovat, Four Diamonds researcher at Penn State College of Medicine. The funding will advance his research into a new treatment approach for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), helping move the search for better outcomes and cures forward for children facing childhood cancer.Hyundai Hope on Wheels also awarded

Five decades of collective action has raised more than $273 million, funded comprehensive medical care and critical research for more than 5,500 childrenHERSHEY, PA — This year marks 50 years of partnership for Four Diamonds and Penn State THON™ in the fight to conquer childhood cancer. Since joining forces in 1977, Four Diamonds, the only fund of its kind in the nation dedicated to assisting chil

Since beginning treatment for childhood cancer at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, Elliot has earned a special nickname: “the mayor.” Every time he walks through the hospital, he smiles and waves to everyone he meets.His family never expected to become so familiar with a hospital. But after Elliot was diagnosed with leukemia, Golisano Children’s Hospital quickly became a major part

No family expects childhood cancer to become part of their story. But each year, thousands of families across the country hear a diagnosis that changes everything. About 15,000, to be more exact. That’s how many children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the United States each year, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Childhood cancer may be considered rare compared with c

A Search for AnswersBefore childhood neuroblastoma changed his life, Asher was always on the move. The 11-year-old loved riding his bike, playing outside and spending time with his friends.Then, little by little, things changed.He wasn’t eating well, and he often felt sick to his stomach. At a routine checkup, his doctor noticed his height and weight had stopped increasing. Bloodwork and specialis

Every September, communities come together during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to recognize children and families impacted by this disease. Gold is the awareness color for childhood cancer, which is why many schools host “Gold Out Games.”By wearing gold and coming together on game day, students, families, athletes and community members can show their support, raise awareness and help shine a l

Lenny has always been a girl who loves to move. The 9-year-old enjoys playing sports, spending time outside and expressing herself through art and music. When she began complaining about leg pain during a family summer vacation, her parents thought it was part of being an active kid. They also wondered if it could be growing pains. They never imagined it would lead to a childhood cancer diagnosis.

For Four Diamonds survivor Brad, his connection to cancer began long before he dedicated his career to researching new cancer treatments.Today, he leads a team developing therapies that could improve outcomes for patients around the world. But more than 30 years ago, he was the patient sitting in the hospital receiving treatment.A Life-Changing DiagnosisWhen Brad was in eighth grade, he began expe