Ignite WLU, a group aimed at raising money to fight pediatric cancer, outlined an expansive fundraising vision at a kickoff event in the Center for Global Learning on Sept. 28.
“I’m envisioning in five, ten years from now, [Ignite] being as big as Mock Con,” said Ignite’s president Leyti Ndiaye ’26. “Extremely ambitious, but I think it’s possible.”
Ignite partnered with Four Diamonds, a national organization committed to covering the cost of pediatric cancer bills.
Four Diamond’s website said its mission is “to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.”
Four Diamond contributes 85 cents to every dollar raised by Ignite, Ndiaye said.
Ndiaye said he also wants to partner with on-campus organizations to fundraise. These organizations would compete to raise the most money for Ignite.
The most successful organization would win a prize sponsored by Residence Life at the end of the fundraising period in winter term, Ndiaye said.
Penn State’s fundraising efforts inspired Ignite’s vision, Ndiaye said.
Penn State’s THON, the largest student-run fundraiser, is a 48-hour event that raises money for Four Diamonds. Students at Penn State raised $12 million over four years, Ndiaye said.
Ndiaye wants to emulate Penn State’s THON by holding a six-hour-long Mini Thon fundraising event during Spring Term with food and musical performances, he said. He also wants those undergoing cancer treatment to give speeches.
“It’s a way to bring the community together for something bigger than us,” Ndiaye said.
Ndiaye said that doing a Mini Thon at his high school inspired him to start Ignite WLU.
“When I was here for AIM, doing research before college, I thought that I wanted to do something like that,” he recalled.
Wonjun Jo, ’26, the group’s treasurer, said that Ndiaye told him his plans about Ignite over a meal during their orientation week and asked if he was interested in helping.
“I liked the idea of starting something from scratch,” Jo said.
Jo said they began forming Ignite in January.
“If you don’t aim too high, then you aim too low,” Ndiaye said. “If you have something small, I don’t think it will go as far as if you think of the impossible.”
