Behind the Merch, Beyond the Mission 

By Ashley DiAntonio, Alexis Marcinko and Sofia Delantar 

While runners and supporters gathered on Oct. 25 for the annual THON™ 5K, Merchandise Captains were working on ensuring their months of planning and preparation came together. For THON Merchandise Captains Eden Manolescu and Sadie Erwin, the event represented much more than a day of sales.  

As Special Event Captains for THON Merchandise, Eden and Sadie are in charge of coordinating merchandise operations at THON’s largest events, including the 5K, Family Carnival and THON Weekend. From managing and organizing inventory to preparing other Captains during events, their dedication and teamwork is what keeps things running smoothly.  

Both Captains have had previous experience with THON, and taking on a leadership role has given them a greater drive for the work that goes into organizing such a successful event. What started as involvement on campus has turned into contributing towards the organization that has made a lasting impact on them.  

“I just fell in love with [THON]. I wanted to give back to an organization that gave so much to me, and really just give back to the families and have a positive impact,” Sadie said. 

The success of the event is not only about the number of merchandising sales, but the opportunity to contribute to THON’s mission and create memorable experiences for everyone involved.  

“The more involved you get, the deeper of an understanding you have of the impact,” Eden said, expressing gratitude for being able to contribute to create a positive environment. 

Aside from events themselves, THON Merchandise also plays a role in spreading awareness globally about the organization’s mission. Supporters can represent the THON anywhere they go, helping its message reach people who may not have experienced THON themselves. 

“We have a unique position in MERCH where our merchandise gets sold worldwide, so people could be in any country wearing THON merch and just spreading the mission as far as it could possibly go,” said Eden.  

Eden and Sadie plan the merchandise for these large events that can take  months of time and commitment, so seeing everything come together makes their dedication worth it.  

Every event is another opportunity to spread THON’s mission and support the families at the heart of the organization. Behind every merchandise tent are the Captains whose dedication goes far beyond the merchandise they sell.