Happy Birthday RaiderTHON!
This year, we are celebrating 10 years of giving to Four Diamonds. Please enjoy the video and the poster links below commemorating the past 10 years.
For more information about our birthday celebration, please visit our page!
It all started with a dream...
The story of the Four Diamonds was written in 1972 by Christopher Millard, a very talented 14-year old boy who was battling cancer. His writing is a symbolic description of his personal fight with cancer and the characteristics he believed were necessary in order to overcome the terrible disease. In his story, Christopher wrote about an aspiring knight, also named Millard, who struggled to conquer the evil sorceress, Raptenahad—a play on the name of Chris’ form of leukemia. The young squire, who had been captured by Raptenahad, repeatedly attempted to destroy the evil witch and gain his freedom. He was unsuccessful until one day Raptenahad told Millard that he could earn his freedom by completing 4 impossible tasks, thus receiving her Four Diamonds. Once he had collected all four of the legendary diamonds, he would be freed and her reign of evil would end forever. The brave Millard valiantly fought, successfully completing each challenge, and eventually defeated Raptenahad. “Millard had proven that he truly deserved knighthood and from then on he lived in glory as Sir Millard.”
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Unfortunately, shortly after writing his story, Chris passed away. His writings, however, are a legacy of inspiration and hope and his message his clear. The Four Diamonds—Courage, Wisdom, Honesty and Strength—will help us to overcome evil and the difficult circumstances we all face.
The Four Diamonds
The Diamond of Courage
“When the once clear, clean path disappears, and an ill-omened darkness prevails,” you will need me to overcome life’s challenges. The Four Diamonds supports children battling cancer and their families by providing support resources.
The Diamond of Wisdom
I am needed so that you can you face life’s troubles with wisdom and make right decisions. That is part of what The Four Diamonds does—provides wisdom through specially trained doctors, nurses, child life specialists and social workers.
The Diamond of Honesty
Facing one’s difficulties head-on can be difficult, but is necessary for overcoming them. The Four Diamonds provides assistance so that cancer patients and their families can receive honest, untainted information and make wise decisions.
The Diamond of Strength
In numbers, there is strength. Together, we can raise money for the Four Diamonds and aid their efforts to one day completely cure the world of cancer. Please help us…FOR THE KIDS!
Mini-THON comes to ELCO
Mini-THONs are fun events that empower students to put their leadership skills into action as we work together to conquer childhood cancer.
Ten years ago, in Mrs. Hartman’s General Business class, the seeds for the first ELCO Raider mini-THON were planted. Mrs. Hartman challenged her students to implement an event that would raise money to support a charitable organization. Clayton Wolf, who was a student in her class and a cancer survivor who benefited from the Four Diamonds Fund, suggested holding a mini-THON. Each student in the class stepped up to the challenge and organized not only a dance, but a night filled with fun activities for all involved!
From that very first mini-THON, interest grew and more students and teachers expressed a desire to participate. Over the years, ELCO has hosted Luas, over-nighters, and Glow dances—all with the end goal of supporting Four Diamonds!
