THON

This past weekend was the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, also known as THON. Months of planning and fundraising to benefit The Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital culminated to this event. With over 15,000 students participating, this was the focus of the University Park campus this past weekend.

Being from Hershey, home of the Penn State Medical Center, I’d heard about THON and had friends who participated in it, whether through Penn state or through affiliations with the medical center. Each year my friends, whose parents were involved in THON through the hospital, thus giving my peers a chance to go, would come back from the THON weekend inspired by the students’ efforts and stories of pediatric cancer patients who’d benefitted from the Four Diamonds Fund. Having only heard about THON weekend, I was excited to finally experience it for myself!

THON is a 46-hour dance marathon where selected students from different fundraising organizations stand or dance continuously. Taking place at the campus’ multipurpose arena, the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC), thousands of involved students and Four Diamonds families congregate in support of the dancers and to be inspired. Walking into the BJC the first night of THON, I thought I knew what to expect, but I was wrong.

The stands were bursting with color and held-up signs to indicate the different fundraising organizations. The stands were packed with students dancing to the booming music. Excitement ran through my bones—the students’ enthusiasm for THON was incredible! It was amazing to see so many students come together for a philanthropic cause. Moving as a crowd to the line dance, done every hour by the thousands inside the BJC to revive the dancers and spectators was phenomenal as well.

In between hourly line dances, the d.j. played upbeat music, bands performed, and Four Diamond families were introduced. As a spectator, I didn’t want to leave the stands, but sleep and homework beckoned.

Life on campus outside of the BJC/THON bubble was dead. It seemed as if everyone in one shape or form was involved in the marathon.

Our THON organization's dancers Ashley (green) and Sean (yellow) kept positive attitudes the whole marathon, despite how long they had been standing and tired they were.  

Going back to the BJC, I had the opportunity to go on the floor with some friends in my THON organization. We signed in to get our passes and met up with our organization’s dancers, Sean and Ashley. 

The excitement on the floor echoed that in the stand, but now my friends and I were able to interact with the Four Diamond kids, who animatedly ran around with squirt guns and smiles. Sunday, the final hours of THON weekend, the Four Diamond Fund families were introduced and some shared their stories, bringing many tears to the stands packed with tired spectators and dances.

Eventually it became time to countdown the end of the 46 hours, after which the dancers happily collapsed to the ground. Afterwards we all waited with anticipation for the final total fundraised to be revealed.  Finally, the time had come. Up went the numbers.

$10, 686, 924.83

The crowd erupted in cheers! Never before had THON raised so much money! It was the perfect ending to such an inspiring weekend.

I’m glad I became involved in THON as a student at Penn State, and I am proud of what my peers have helped accomplish. The weekend was tiring, but more than anything it was inspiring. Well done Penn State!