For the past four years, North Hills High School students have been hosting a dance marathon to raise money for charity.
Based on the legendary annual dance marathon held at Penn State University known as “THON,” North Hills is taking the popular and successful idea a few dance steps forward by expanding its 5th annual marathon to three separate event.
• A new “junior” marathon for kids in Grades 7 and 8 will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 1.
• Also new is a “community” dance marathon that is open to the public. It will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. The free community THON also will feature family-friendly carnival games and a basket raffle.
• The high school’s student council and Hands for Service Club will host a dance marathon for students in Grades 9 through 12 from 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.
All three events will be held in gym at North Hills Middle School. Activities will include dancing, inflatables, games and food.
Each dancer is required to raise an entrance fee — $25 for the high schoolers and $15 for the junior dance. However, dancers are encouraged to raise as much as they can to support the two charitable organizations that will benefit.
North Hills plans to donate proceeds from all three THONS to Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, which supports families and patients affected by childhood illnesses.
The past four THONS have raised more than $40,000 for charity.
Donations of food items to feed dancers who will be on their feet for 12 hours also are being accepted and can be dropped off at the high school athletic and activities office through March 1.
A list of items needed are available online.
Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony at 724-772-6368 or tlarussa@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TonyLaRussaTrib.
