Spring 2023 Issue

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Roxbury Students Dance (and play) the Night Away Event Raises $54K for Pediatric Cancer 8 Story by MELISSA SUMMERS Photos by KAREN FUCITO To say that they danced the night away is an understatement. More than 250 Roxbury High School students danced, played, sang and, of course, ate till they dropped as they raised money for pediatric cancer at this year’s Rox-THON. The annual event has taken on several forms in the last few years as organizers navigated the pandemic and its restrictions. This year, Rox-THON returned to its true form with an overnight dance marathon at the Succasunna school on March 10. Based on the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON), which began in 1972, Rox-THON is designed to keep participants awake and on their feet, according to Roxbury High School teacher and Rox-THON co-advisor Mike Gottfried. As a Penn State alumnus fresh from several years of dancing at the university, Gottfried was approached in October 2013 to help with Roxbury High School Key Club’s first Mini-THON in 2014. (Mini-THONs are modeled after the Penn State THON, which raises money for Four Diamonds, a Penn State-based charity. Proceeds go towards helping Pennsylvania families impacted by childhood cancer, raising awareness and funding research.) “Key Club put on the event until 2016 when Mini-THON became its own club,” Gottfried explained. After a few years, he said, it made sense for the school to establish a locally run, more independent event. In 2019, they transitioned from Mini-THON to Rox-THON. “The school district felt it would be a good opportunity to donate the majority of our money to a local cause, as opposed to having all of the money go to the Penn State organization,” said Eisenhower Middle School teacher and Rox-THON co-advisor Margery Richman. “Now we donate to [Morristown Medical Center’s] Goryeb Children’s Hospital and specifically the [Valerie Fund Center].” The Valerie Fund provides comprehensive care to children with cancer and blood disorders and their families. Valerie Fund Centers are located in eight pediatric hospitals in New Jersey, New York and metro Philadelphia, including the center in Morristown. “Proceeds are now split with 30 percent going to Penn State Children’s Hospital and 70 percent going to Goryeb. It has brought the cause closer to home,” said Gottfried. “Working with local patients and families has been very beneficial for us and for them.” The partnership also allows students to visit LAKE HOPATCONG NEWS <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2023</strong> the Morristown facilities and speak to the hospital staff. “They hear where the money is going so it becomes a little more tangible for them,” Gottfried said. Rox-THON has a leadership structure consisting of committees, captains and directors. Roxbury senior Diya Narayan, 18, of Ledgewood, began as a freshman on the hospitality committee. Sophomore year she was a captain and this year she is Rox-THON’s president. She was first introduced to THON in 2019 when eighth graders from Eisenhower Middle School were invited to attend. “I thought high school would be scary,” she recalled. “But all these people were standing for the kids who can’t. They stay 12 hours on their feet and are donating their time and money. It’s something so worthy, and I needed to be part of this movement.” Diya said she is honored to be part of a dedicated group of students and proud of how much they have accomplished. “After a long school day, some people just go home and nap, but these people start right at 2:30 p.m. We make decorations, we make calls. It’s inspiring.” Gottfried said building leadership skills is a big part of the organization. “Our leaders have done more and more each year,” he said. “We’ve learned how to delegate that work to them over time. We say, ‘This is what you need to do, go do it.’ And then we provide the support needed to help them get there. It’s incredible to see how much more work is being done and how much less falls on us, which is fantastic.” “It gives a lot of autonomy to the students, allows them to make a lot of decisions and it’s an opportunity to have these life skills that high schoolers normally don’t,” Richman added. The students call businesses, ask for money and donations and write thank-you notes— experiences that some college students and adults are lacking. “Our alumni talk about the skills that they learn being a leader here. They are going to take those and apply them down the road,” said Gottfried. The pandemic put the brakes on the overnight event for a few years, but the students were determined to keep it going. Junior Tyler Benedetto, 17, of Succasunna, was in eighth grade in 2020 when he was asked to DJ the event. “It was right as COVID happened, everything shut down and the in-person event got canceled,” he recalled. “A month later, I was brought on as a captain and part of planning the 2020 virtual event.” Rox-THON was streamed entirely via YouTube that year and, in 2021, it was held outdoors. “We were on the track and the back of Roxbury High School,” Diya said. “There were games, dancing. It was not as big as if it was held inside, but it shows how hardworking THON is to be able to keep it going.” In 2022, the students were back inside for a six-hour event, even though the mask mandate wasn’t lifted until the Monday before the event, according to Gottfried. This year, with a return to the 12-hour overnight model, those planning Rox-THON were prepared. “We had a few DJs, a bounce house and the entertainment committee planned both organized and ‘backyard’ games,” Tyler said. “It’s all to keep everyone moving and on their feet. Most activities were in the gym, and we had the food in the cafeteria.” Diya is grateful for the donation of food that kept the teens’ stomachs full. “We had pizza, Cliff’s ice cream, bagels and the hospitality committee made pancakes.” And cue the ABBA soundtrack, she added. “Our theme this year was disco. I was so excited.” The decorations and T-shirts, created by the morale team, also fit the theme. Senior Jenna Waldron, 18, of Kenvil, was the director of morale. She’d been involved in the event since she was a freshman, following two older siblings who were also part of Rox-THON. One of the committee’s most important roles was designing an original line dance. “We created a three-minute-long dance that we did every hour on the hour during the event,” she said. “Every year we pick songs and Tyler, our resident DJ, mixes the songs. We choreographed it over a few meetings and then learned it and then taught it to everyone at the event.” Another big part of the night was the Family Hour where guest speakers were welcomed to share their stories. “It was to remind everyone why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Jenna said. This year featured a representative from Surviving Hope, a Mount Arlington-based charity that provides financial support to families impacted by a sudden medical crisis and volunteers to help with household needs, according to Jenna. Ledgewood freshman Emily Rowe, 15, had personal reasons for being a part of Rox-THON.
“My little cousin has gone through pediatric cancer,” she said as she made a card for one of the patients at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. “Seeing her like that made me want to help other people who experienced the same thing that she did. Being here means a lot to me, knowing that I’m able to help other people like her.” Not only did Julia Gonzalez, 16, want to support a good cause, but the junior from Landing was happy to see friends outside of the regular school setting. “I’m a dancer so I love performing and dancing,” she said. “It’s a good tactic to use a lot of different types of dancing to allow people to come together. It’s a really fun night and a great message.” Rox-THON organizers hold an assembly early in the planning process to draw interest in volunteering and attending the event. Freshman Elymar Severino-Duran, 14, of Hopatcong, was sold on the enthusiasm. “I wanted to be a part of something special.” Gottfried said he is appreciative of an administration that supports the event and everything leading up to it. “It wouldn’t happen Facing page: Students learning this year’s line dance. This page, top, left to right: Dancing in the gym. After staying awake and on his feet for 11 hours, Daniel Ritacco takes a nap. Alysa Talmadge shows off her autographed T-shirt. At the 12th hour, the Rox-THON committee reveals the amount of money raised. Blake Salemi dresses for the disco theme. without the kids and the commitment of the staff,” added Richman. The amount raised at the Rox-THON totaled $52,902.34 and was revealed at the conclusion of the event. Other donations brought the total to $54,000. “As much as your feet hurt, as much as you’re tired and sore, you know that you’re not dancing for you, you’re dancing for someone else that can’t,” said Jenna Waldron, the senior leading the morale team. A four-generation family run business since 1953 NEW CONSTRUCTION REPAIRS Sea Walls Pile Driving Boat Houses Concrete Work Barge Service Boat Lifts Bubbler Style Deicing Systems Certified Welding Commercial Diving Decks Helical Piers and Anchors Salvage AAA Dock & Marine 27 Prospect Point Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ Office and Fax 973-663-4998 • Cell 973-219-7113 • docksmarina@hotmail.com lakehopatcongnews.com 9
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