by Sophie Cirelli ’22 (De La Salle House)

Trinity High School just had its yearly mini-THON on Friday, April 23, raising more than $80,000 for children with cancer. Trinity’s mini-THON has been going on for over ten years and has sparked students’ interest to continue their THON efforts after graduation. Bella Pykosh ‘20 is one such alumna who served on the operations committee for Trinity’s Mini-THON, and now assists with the UDance philanthropy at the University of Delaware. 

UDance is a student run organization and the biggest philanthropy at the University of Delaware that raises funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. UDance was held virtually with a 12-hour Zoom and in-person event outdoors on campus on April 25. Like our mini-THON, UD donates their money to a foundation called the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which funds cutting-edge childhood cancer research and financially assists families and kids with cancer nationwide. The B+ Foundation was founded by Joe McDonough who lost his son, Andrew, to AML Leukemia. The name “B+” comes from Andrew’s blood type.

When asking Bella what UDance meant to her, she had a hard time putting everything into words. She said, “firstly the cause that we are working for is so important to me. I’m sure we all have seen cancer impact way too many lives, and it’s a battle that has been fought for too long. Something special about UDance and The B+ Foundation is that we have B+ Heroes that we financially support. At this year’s UDance, the University of Delaware earned $1,563,035.96 for cancer research and financial assistance to those families in need. Even though things are different at University of Delaware’s UDance and Trinity’s Mini-THON, both schools made a difference in the lives of children and families battling childhood cancer.”

Isabella Pykosh, an alumna of Trinity High School, class of 2020, is a communications major looking to potentially minor in advertising at the University of Delaware. Bella is currently a freshman finishing her second semester on campus. She is a part of the World Scholars Program and is a member of two different UDance committees.