Brighten Every Journey- A Review of THON 2012

For those of you who are unfamiliar with THON, I’ll give you a brief overview. It’s a dance marathon that lasts for 46 hours to fundraise money for pediatric cancer. Registered dancers must stand, dance, or etc. for the full 46 hours and are not allowed to sit down. The idea is that despite whatever exhaustion or pain they may feel, it is nothing like what a small child goes through as they endure cancer. Many are under the misconception that THON simply exists for that one weekend, but it is actually an annual year-long effort. Families with children who have been diagnosed with cancer have the option to enter in the Four Diamonds Fund at Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where they will be placed under financial and emotional care provided by the Penn State students who have dedicated their college careers to helping this noble cause.

As an active member of one of the special interest organizations, I can share with you that it is by far the most fulfilling thing I have done with my life. The bonds you make, the countless hours you pour into fundraising by standing on freezing cold street corners, and the heart that you dedicate are all priceless.

Each group involved is placed with a family. While the money is collectively raised throughout a university-wide effor, you get to know your child and their family on an emotional level. Pillar, which is my organization, is paired with a 13 year old boy named Jake this year. He entered into the program last year after a tough battle with a rare form of leukemia that was forcing him his parents, and his seven other siblings to make huge sacrifices. After spending some time getting to know the family,  they have connected with us and we get to see them regularly despite the distance. They look forward to THON every year,  calling it their favorite weekend, and we celebrate their birthdays and other events with them.

What makes THON so special is definitely the children. THON is their one chance to embrace their childhoods and take back what has been stolen. These children are heroes to us all and their fight and dedication is inspiring. Families that are brave enough to share the stories of their loss, their fights, and their victories steal the show in the last four hours. Even though it’s hard to pay tribute to the children who didn’t make it, it’s so uplifting to see how many survivors attend Penn State once it is time for them to make their own college decisions.

If you can make it to Penn State, pop in during a THON weekend. You might have a child squirt you with a water gun, or have a parent hug you and thank you for what you have done. You might even have a tired dancer ask you for a piggy-back ride, but want you won’t have while you are at THON is a negative outlook on life. When a two-year-old can teach you to not take a single day for granted, it is humbling. As I have finished my THON career up this past February, I can only hope I have played my own small part in something big. I hope one child I held that weekend knows that an entire university and nation is standing behind them. THON helps every family realize they are not alone.

As we say at THON: “One day we will dance in celebration, until then we will dance for a cure”

Donations can be made at thon.org. Don’t forget it is “FTK”—for the kids