The Cabrini Community surpassed its $10,000 fundraising goal for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia during the inaugural Mitch Kline Cav-A-Thon on Saturday, March 24.
From 6pm to midnight in the Nerney Field House, Cabrini students, faculty, staff, alums, and their families took part in a six-hour dance marathon to raise awareness and money for children with pediatric cancer.
The student-run event also included backyard games like Cornhole and Spike Ball, a lip-sync battle, and a luminary walk in honor of those who have or have had cancer.
During “family hour,” Diana Butkus spoke about her three-year-old son Jaxson, who recently went through cancer treatment, and explained why events like Cav-A-Thon are so important. Every day, 43 parents will have to hear that their child has cancer, Butkus said, adding that we need more funding.
Everyone made sure Jaxson had a great night at Cav-A-Thon. A table was set up with gift baskets for him and his two brothers and a huge poster hung in the gym that read “Cav-A-Thon Welcomes Jaxson."
The event was organized by Cabrini’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC). The group went through a few months of meetings at the end of the 2017-18 academic year and things took off from there.
The unofficial $19,001.13 total came as an exciting shock to many that night.
“Going from an idea on a whim, to [nearly] doubling our goal is just unreal,” said Ryan Brong (’19), one of four overall captains of the event. “It is a moment that I will never forget and a moment that also has lit a fire to make an even greater event next year.”
"You never know what to expect with something like this, especially the first year," said Jess Huda ('01), Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation and SAAC advisor. "We not only surpassed our goal, we crushed it!"
"I truly hope Cav-A-Thon continues for years to come," Huda said. "Being able to watch Jaxson run around with a huge smile on his face was even more motivation to grow the event next year."
The Cav-A-Thon was named after former Cabrini softball coach Mitch Kline, who passed away from cancer in September 2016.