The Four Diamonds

The story of Chris Millard is one that has been inspiring people for over 30 years. There is a Four Diamonds fund that was set up by Chris's parents to help children with childhood cancer. The story itself was written by Chris Millard before he passed away from cancer. The four diamonds are courage, honesty, strength and wisdom, which were all things that he needed to fight his battle with cancer. It is such a great story, I wish they would run the movie again so that more people could see it. It is a great way for children to understand what cancer is without having to actually realize what cancer really is. Disney should release it as an anniversary edition next year.

Christopher Millard created this beautifully written story in an effort to describe the four qualities that he believed a person would need to defeat cancer: Courage, Wisdom, Honesty, and Strength...the Four Diamonds. Unfortunately, Christopher lost his battle with cancer a few years after writing the story, but his spirit and captivating message lives on. This story led to Chris' parents, Charles & Irma Millard, to name the organization that would raise money for families who children have to deal with the disease, the "Four Diamonds Fund" which is located at the Penn State Children's Hospital. The story and the fund have become the basis for the world's largest student run philanthropy...the Penn State Dance Marathon. In it's 30 year history, THON (as it is affectionately called by the Penn State community) has raised over $30 million in an effort to "Conquer Pediatric Cancer". Over 10,000 students coming together and do what they can monetarily, spiritually, and physically to find a cure for cancer giving these "Four Diamonds" a face.

If such a story can inspire such an amazing event, it would be hard to believe it could not inspire a great movie.

I was 15 when I saw The Four Diamonds, but I adored it. It made me laugh; it made me cry. It made me believe and hope and care. The movie presented a story that was at one time honest and blunt about the challenges of being a teenager with a critical illness, and at the same time beautiful with hope and inspiration and dreams. I always wanted to tape the movie, but I never did, and then it went off the air and I never saw it again. I have tried to track down a copy of it and I have tried to e-mail Disney in the hopes of getting it re-aired. It's a great movie and people deserve to see it again. People need to see it again. I need to see it again.

I remember when this movie aired and I taped it at the time. I was so moved by what I saw that I took the tape to my 8th grade English teacher so that we could watch it in class. We never had the opportunity to watch it and I ended up leaving it at the school. I wish that I still had that tape because I think about the film often. I've tried to remember specifics about the acting and writing but sadly I can't.If anyone knows how to secure a copy of the movie please post some info. I work with terminally ill children and I think this movie would inspire them to fight hard for as long as they can and to not give up. If anyone can help I would appreciate it. Thank you.

This movie is wonderful. The way every single person handles disease and death is not well understood. This young boy fantasies every time he gets the chemo, as if he was fighting with Knights. Let me tell You, you have no idea how hard I have been looking for this movie to buy it, because it would be perfect for my support group. Unfortunately is not good business for Disney.