The Perpetual Pennant Project 

Family Relations Captains Lauren Ade, Jared Cannon, Sophia Ketner, Emma Hoebler, and Family Relations Director Carley Mykut were asked to discuss the committee’s beloved Perpetual Pennant Project (PPP). Lauren, Emma, and Sophia serve as the THON™ 2026 Bereaved Family Contact (BFC) Captains. Jared is the committee’s Administrative Assistant and was a previous BFC for THON 2025. Carley serves on the THON 2026 Executive Committee as the Family Relations Director. The Family Relations Committee is responsible for upholding the emotional aspect of THON’s mission while honoring our Four Diamonds Families and those we remember in our hearts.  

“The Perpetual Pennant Project (PPP) is a physical representation of the friends and loved ones whose lives we continue to celebrate. The purpose of this project is to serve as a visualization of the connection between these children and the THON Community,” said Sophia 

The various colored pennants each display the name, birthday, anniversary, and occasionally a quote and/or photo of the children who are no longer with us. The pennants are tied together to create a chain of remembrance, and to allow viewers to conceptualize the magnitude and importance of this project.  

“Each pennant includes the child’s name, date of birth, and date of passing. Families then have the option to include a quote that they feel embodies their child and is reflective of their life, whether it’s an inspirational quote, a direct quote from their child, or a reference to things that their child loved (quotes from Disney movies, famous athletes/actors, etc.). Additionally, some families include a photograph on the pennant of their loved one, embracing the notion that a picture is worth a thousand words. We are grateful for all that families choose to share on the pennant with us, allowing us the honor of sharing their loved one’s legacy with the greater THON community.” – Lauren.  

“Also, some pennants have stickers that are meaningful to the child and family. For example, the Dakota Dixon pennant has a sticker of a duck that Dakota drew, and the Ellen Smith pennant has a “4LN4EVR” sticker,” said Emma. 

The PPP upholds the values of THON’s mission by “creating a space for empathy, reflection, and connection,” said Sophia. Through the PPP, Four Diamond Families and their children’s memories will continue to live on through the project and THON volunteers.  

“The PPP provides continuing emotional support for bereaved families, reminding them that they will always have a home in THON. Through the PPP, the children’s lives continue to be celebrated, remembered, and shared, inspiring all of us to keep fighting for a future without childhood cancer.” – Sophia 

Although there is no official recorded start date of the project, the PPP has been passed down over the years by the Bereaved Family Contacts. These captains act as the main point of contact for bereaved Four Diamonds Families and are responsible for sharing this project each year and continuing the legacy of these children.  

“The PPP was created so that we could have a physical embodiment of these children. Each pennant is strung together to create one unified banner. The pennants facilitate important discussions to help remember each individual, their stories, and honor the lives they lived.” – Jared 

“Additionally, all THON committees, special interest organizations, and general organizations are essential in continuing the Perpetual Pennant Project (PPP), as they have the opportunity to schedule a “PPP Crash” for their group of THON volunteers or members. A PPP Crash is when the Bereaved Family Contacts bring the strung pennants to a THON Committee Member meeting, organization meetings (Greek life, campus clubs, etc.), or special interest organization meetings, providing the physical representation of all those the THON community has lost for students to reflect and honor upon. Last year, the Bereaved Family Contact captains were able to crash 114 meetings within the 2025 THON year! We (current BFCs) hope that the THON community will continue to passionately embrace the PPP for the THON 2026 year, allowing us into their meeting spaces to ensure that the memories and lives of all those we remember in our hearts can be celebrated and remembered.” – Lauren 

With THON 2026 quickly approaching, Emma shared some of the current BFC’s goals for the fundraising year: 

“We (the current BFCs – Emma, Lauren, and Sophia) want to continue crashing as many committees and organizations as we can. We want to continue to spread the legacy of each child to honor and carry on their legacy. Each PPP crash, we learn a new story about a pennant, child, and family. A goal I have for myself is to be able to learn a little bit about each pennant. When we crash meetings, sometimes members are a part of organizations that are paired with a bereaved family, and they can share a little bit about the family story and further spread the legacy of the child. These crashes are so special, and my/our goal is to honor each pennant and create a safe space for the THON community to reflect and connect with those we remember in our hearts.”