Maria DeVito

Reporter

NEWARK - For Newark High School's Key Club, raising awareness about childhood cancer has become its main project.

And Saturday the school will host its second WildcatThon, a dance marathon and community event to raise money for childhood cancer treatment.

Carrie Dietz, a sophomore and Key Club officer, said awareness is crucial.

"You get to see the difference you’re making because you’re helping people your age," she said.

All proceeds from the event are donated to the Oncology Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the event is connected to BuckeyeThon, a program at Ohio State University that raises money for the hospital as well.

Dietz said last year's event was fun and successful. The Key Club raised about $4,200 through WildcatThon and other events during the year.

"We were able to raise money to help BuckeyeThon and Nationwide Children’s, but we were able to do it through a fun experience and with our friends and our peers," she said.

Scott Koebel, a school counselor and Key Club's co-advisor, said the event, which has a Disney and Star Wars theme, is expanding this year. There will be inflatables, bubble soccer, a Nerf gun battle area, therapy dogs and more. People are also encouraged to dress up to fit the theme.

Koebel said the goal is to engage more students from the district's middle school and the community as a whole.

High school and middle school students will pay a $10 registration fee at the door and community members are encouraged to give a donation of their choosing. The event is free to Miracle Kids, who are children who have been diagnosed with some form of cancer or are now in remission.

Koebel said it's been a great activity for the Key Club, which has only been at the high school for a few years.

"We do a lot of really great small projects, but the nice thing about WildcatThon is it’s kind of developed into our big project," he said. "It’s something that everyone can get involved in and it’s a little more fun than some other projects that may not be quite as appealing to everyone."

And while the Key Club takes on most of the work, its not the only group helping. Dietz said the ROTC group, the cheerleaders and others will be there as well.

"It’s also a good way to involve the whole school," she said.

mdevito@gannett.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @MariaDeVito13

If You Go

What: WildcatThon

When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 18

Where: Newark High School, located at 314 Granville Street, in the student commons

FYI: $10 registration fee for high school and middle school students, charitable donation for community members