Today, I would like to share with you a cause that is very close to my heart. This cause is what several of us Penn Staters popularly call THON and in full, stands for The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
THON is a non-profit organization at Penn State University that raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund of the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital to help with the treatment of pediatric cancer as well as towards the research for finding a cure. Since 1973, when it first started, THON has raised over $78 million and assisted over 2000 children and families in their fight against pediatric cancer. THON's mission is to provide outstanding emotional and financial support to the Four Diamond Fund families.
THON is a non-profit organization at Penn State University that raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund of the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital to help with the treatment of pediatric cancer as well as towards the research for finding a cure. Since 1973, when it first started, THON has raised over $78 million and assisted over 2000 children and families in their fight against pediatric cancer. THON's mission is to provide outstanding emotional and financial support to the Four Diamond Fund families.
I had the wonderful opportunity to be involved with THON during my senior year at Penn State University. From May 2006 - February 2007, while college students across the world were busy living the time of their lives, so was I, along with other THON-ers (Penn State students involved with THON), except that we did it in a way that was exceptionally different from the normal crowd. My involvement with THON taught me the true meaning of commitment and here I share my THON 2006 - 2007 journey with you.
- While the normal college crowd spent late nights drinking and clubbing, the THON-ers stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning writing letters and making beautiful hand made greeting cards for our THON kids
- While the normal crowd slept till noon in their dorm rooms, we THON-ers woke up at 6 AM, took a shower, got dressed, picked up our cars and drove to different cities in disgusting snowy weather to stand at roadsides with metal cans asking random strangers to donate money FTK (For the Kids), and help the kids with cancer. Be it New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Hershey or any other city we could manage to drive to, we could be spotted setting up camps there every week in busy downtown areas to continue our fundraising efforts.
- While the normal college crowd went to the salon every two weeks for a haircut, the THON-ers oiled and grew their locks of love as long as they could all year long so they could cut off and donate those 5-10 inches at the end of the year to help make a wig for the kids who had lost all their hair to chemotherapy
- While most students spent their vacations on beaches in Florida and skiing resorts in Colorado, the THON-ers spent theirs visiting the children and families at their homes and in the hospital to play endless hours of Monopoly & Cranium
- While others spent their time shopping & hanging out at the movies, the THON-ers went to the gym every single day to prepare their bodies to endure the most physically challenging weekend of their lifetime in February - a 46 hour no sitting no sleeping dance marathon
- While the normal college crowd spent their Valentine's weekend of 2007 at dance parties with their loved ones, we THON-ers spent ours dancing in a 46 hour no sitting no sleeping dance marathon with the THON kids & their families at the Penn State Bryce Jordan Center amongst thousands of cheering spectators continuing our promise yet again - the promise that "one day, we will dance in the celebration of a cure, until then, we dance for life."
THON started with very humble beginnings in 1973 when 39 Penn State student couples danced for a 30-hour competition to raise $2000 for the the Four Diamonds Fund. Since then, the organization has grown exponentially into becoming the largest student run philanthropy of the world that now involves a year long effort of awareness and fundraising that culminates in a 46 hour no sitting no sleeping dance marathon in which over 15000 Penn State student volunteers and 700 dancers participate each year. Thanks to THON, no child in need of cancer treatment has ever been returned from the Penn State Hershey Hospital due to lack of funds.
Even though I graduated 5 years ago, I still support THON as a Penn State alum and will continue to do so for all times to come. THON 2007 was the most exceptional experience of my life. I will never forget the canning trips, the standing in the snow for hours to raise money, the smile of hope when counting the money in our cans at the end of each day, the hospital visits to comfort the kids bearing the pain of the chemotherapy needles being stuck in their bodies, the emotional phone conversations with the parents to find out how they were putting up, the gym prep to the big dancing weekend, the sore body from dancing 46 hours without sitting or sleeping, the hundreds of letters & cards received from family & friends all over the world that pushed me to keep dancing every time I thought I was about to lose my physical strength, the random volunteers who gave foot rubs and back massages to keep me going, the thousands of students, alumni and THON families who came together at Penn State during marathon weekend, the endless games, water gun fights, piggy back rides & running around behind the kids to help them forget about all the grown-up hardships they were facing and instead just be kids for those 46 hours, the hundreds of hugs, the love, the tears every time we were reminded of a child we had supported who lost his/her battle to cancer, and I can never forget that moment when the final fundraising amount, a whopping $5, 240, 385.17 (yes, over $5 million) was waved high in the sky when I finally sat on the floor at the end of the most physically tiring but most emotionally fulfilling 46 hours of my life.
Just a short glimpse into the world of THON
Courtesy: www.thon.org
Even though I graduated 5 years ago, I still support THON as a Penn State alum and will continue to do so for all times to come. THON 2007 was the most exceptional experience of my life. I will never forget the canning trips, the standing in the snow for hours to raise money, the smile of hope when counting the money in our cans at the end of each day, the hospital visits to comfort the kids bearing the pain of the chemotherapy needles being stuck in their bodies, the emotional phone conversations with the parents to find out how they were putting up, the gym prep to the big dancing weekend, the sore body from dancing 46 hours without sitting or sleeping, the hundreds of letters & cards received from family & friends all over the world that pushed me to keep dancing every time I thought I was about to lose my physical strength, the random volunteers who gave foot rubs and back massages to keep me going, the thousands of students, alumni and THON families who came together at Penn State during marathon weekend, the endless games, water gun fights, piggy back rides & running around behind the kids to help them forget about all the grown-up hardships they were facing and instead just be kids for those 46 hours, the hundreds of hugs, the love, the tears every time we were reminded of a child we had supported who lost his/her battle to cancer, and I can never forget that moment when the final fundraising amount, a whopping $5, 240, 385.17 (yes, over $5 million) was waved high in the sky when I finally sat on the floor at the end of the most physically tiring but most emotionally fulfilling 46 hours of my life.
Those 46 hours might have ended but the lessons it taught me & the memories it gave me will always remain in a very special place of my heart. THON is the best thing that ever happened to me. Those little kids with their bundle of energy, smiling and laughing away even during their most physically & emotionally painful times made me learn what it really meant to have strength, courage and optimism. It taught me that no matter what sort of hardships you are faced with, never lose hope and always believe and have faith. THON truly changed my life forever.
(Isaac Thompson was diagnosed with cancer in August 2006. He had the heart of an angel and the spirit of his favorite hero, Superman. I will never forget all the great time spent with him. Even as a little boy, he believed in leading life with pure and unconditional love and fought his illness with a very courageous and positive attitude. We used to call him our "Man of Steel". Unfortunately, he lost his battle to pediatric cancer and passed away on September 10, 2008. Every year when THON comes by in February, I am reminded of my little superhero. Isaac, wherever you are, Rest in Peace, buddy! I will miss you and cherish you forever. For you & several others I met on my journey, I continue to support THON & hope that one day, we find a cure)
THON Weekend 2012 will be taking place this year from February 17th - 19th. You too can make a difference by joining the Penn State students & alumni to make strides towards finding a cure for all types of childhood cancers. There are several ways to get involved and help out. The easiest way is to make an online donation on the THON website. All contributions are tax-deductible and any donation over $25 will get a receipt. Please be generous and make a contribution. Together, we can make a change in the life of a child.
My superman, Isaac & I at THON 2007
THON Weekend 2012 will be taking place this year from February 17th - 19th. You too can make a difference by joining the Penn State students & alumni to make strides towards finding a cure for all types of childhood cancers. There are several ways to get involved and help out. The easiest way is to make an online donation on the THON website. All contributions are tax-deductible and any donation over $25 will get a receipt. Please be generous and make a contribution. Together, we can make a change in the life of a child.
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