Written by Keira Sieber, MUAHS Reporter
For the first time since 2022, the Mount Union Area School District will be hosting the annual CHAMP Dance Marathon on February 27.
The CHAMP organization started in 2015 when seven local families in Huntingdon County had family members suffering from cancer. These seven families, and their children, came to be known as the “Spectacular Seven”. This year, students representing Mount Union Area School District, Southern Huntington County School District, Huntington Area School District, Juniata Valley School District, Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center and New Day Charter School will once again come together to hold a dance marathon to raise money for local children and adults fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
CHAMP helps cover the families’ expenses, travel, medical bills, and daily needs and helps the family take as much of the financial burden away during a difficult time. All six schools have been helping to raise money for each family through various fundraisers.
This year, CHAMP has 23 beneficiary families that will be the beneficiaries of this year’s fundraising total. As in past years, this year’s goal for CHAMP and its student captains is to exceed last year’s fundraising total.
Mount Union’s CHAMP Captains have continued using traditional fundraisers as well as school activities to raise money for CHAMP, but to meet their goal of raising more money than any other school this year, have also introduced new opportunities for the community to support CHAMP.
“This year, Mount Union is having a wall of honor, where people can donate to have a slot on the wall for their loved ones to recognize them for their fight through cancer.” states Mount Union Sophomore and second year CHAMP Captain Jazzy Inch. Inch also stated that “Mount Union will have more student involved activities” this year to offer students as many opportunities as possible to support CHAMP.
Mount Union hosting CHAMP has provided a full circle moment for Inch, who was one of the original “Spectacular Seven” children helped by CHAMP in 2015. This will be the first time CHAMP’s dance marathon will be in Mount Union since Inch started high school.
Mount Union Junior and second year captain Andreya Simmons said that, along with providing fundraising, CHAMP provides students from schools around Huntingdon County to come together and support the same cause. Simmons said her favorite part of CHAMP is “Helping everyone, there are people locally that we know and it really makes you feel good.”
Community members wishing to support CHAMP can donate via checks, PayPal, Venmo as well as cash. Donations can be sent to CHAMP advisors, captains or sent online using the CHAMP website.