By: Ava Acevedo, Kate Brameyer, Avelyn Lockard, Gia Vachino, and Devank Yadav
Behind the excitement of the annual THON™ 5K on Sunday, Oct. 25, THON’s Public Relations Directors Melanie Layish and Aralyn Hackney play key roles in promoting the 5K, each by inspiring a team of captains ready to empower the voices of the THON community.
THON’s Public Relations: Digital Content Director, Melanie Layish, oversees 19 captains across social media, graphic design, video production, and photography teams. As the PR DC Director, “Our work is really to capture all of the magic of the organization,” Melanie said. Before the big day, Melanie and her captains worked on pre-event promotions across social media platforms to grow excitement for the amazing day ahead.
THON’s Public Relations: Media Management Director, Aralyn Hackney, oversees 16 captains and describes how everyone is working to “expand the awareness of THON on a local, state and national level.” This awareness is spread through collaborating with mediums such as influencers and athletes, and this helps to ensure that the THON community is informed and to expand the mission to people who can learn more about it!
For both directors, the event represents more than a race. It offers an opportunity to feel the excitement in the air, especially with the THON 5K kicking off the Dream Forward Campaign. This special event is filled with fun and is a great stepping stone to further “our yearlong awareness,” said Aralyn.
While Melanie experienced her first THON 5K, Aralyn reflected on attending the event for the fourth time, highlighting how the annual tradition continues to unite the THON community year after year.
“It’s so cool, like seeing so many people come together, volunteers, runners, families, everyone, all come together for one cause,” Melanie said.
To encourage participation in the annual THON 5K, both the Media Management and Digital Content committees work very closely. Melanie mentioned that the committees having the same vision and being on the same page is important for going into each event. This includes articles being released at the same time as a social media post or press release.
Melanie and Aralyn witnessed their behind-the-scenes efforts pay off at the event. They both described the THON 5K atmosphere as surreal.
“It’s just the same amazing community that you know, it never fails. It never fails to amaze me. It never fails to amaze anyone,” Aralyn said.
The THON 5K is a symbol of unity for both directors. The amount of runners, volunteers and family who attended the event emphasized this.
Both Melanie and Aralyn expressed that their favorite part of the THON 5K is witnessing the community’s unwavering support for the THON families. It’s a great feeling to see everyone in the THON community come together to build excitement for the year ahead.
“I think it really gets everyone excited for the year as well,” Aralyn said. “So it’s just a great kickoff to that and just continuing our yearlong awareness.”
For Aralyn, that kickoff holds personal meaning. As a freshman, she spent her first 5K handing out water to runners. Now she helps share the event with the world through her work.
With the year underway, Melanie and Aralyn will continue to work towards keeping the community engaged all the way to THON Weekend and beyond.
THON™ is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital because of supporters like you. Your generosity creates moments of joy for Four Diamonds children and families and empowers our volunteers through year-round events, fundraisers and THON Weekend.
