Being a Penn State student has many perks. There are many campuses but we are all one university. We have alumni in all 50 states and more than 160 countries around the world, one of the top student sections for football games and of course, THON.
The IFC/Panhellenic Dance MaraTHON is a 46 hour, no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon held at Penn State every year since 1973. We dance to raise money for the Four Diamonds fund, which benefits children with cancer. It all started with a group of students who wanted to bring some excitement to Central, PA during the boring, cold month of February. THON has grown over the years and is now the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. It's impact has spread across the country to other colleges, high schools and grade schools. THON holds a special place in the hearts of the students who volunteer their time every year for such an amazing cause, myself being one of them.
When I arrived at Penn State Harrisburg, I knew that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. I had joined a couple of clubs and made a bunch of friends but something was missing. I felt the need to be a part of something that changed lives and made an impact in the world.
I had known about THON from living in Central, PA and hearing about it every year on the news. I knew it was a great organization but I never truly experienced what THON was, until I went to the meetings. Then I realized when I got to THON weekend that I actually hadn't experienced THON until then.
I always wondered, what's the big deal? Why is everyone so excited about this particular weekend in February? Now my answer is short, sweet and I'm sure you've heard it many times. For The Kids. FTK. Three words and three letters that stand for so much more. Everything that we do and everything that we stand for is for those kids. All the meetings, fundraisers, canning/canvassing weekends and late nights are so that one day we can end childhood cancer. THON weekend is one big, exciting gathering that is completely for them.
The experience that THON weekend gave me is one that is not able to be put into words. During those 46 hours so many emotions, thoughts and experiences occurred. Every hour there were different activities such as contests, fashion shows, talent shows, but most importantly there was family hour. Family hour is the time we spend reflecting on those who are fighting, have won their battle and those who lost their lives to cancer. During this time my organization became my family and I will never forget that moment. Our Four Diamonds families are forever apart of my life and I know my org would say the same.
People may think that we're crazy for actually wanting to be unable sit or sleep for 46 hours, but we're not. We're college kids making an impact for the lives of kids who have made an impact on us. We're experiencing a tiny amount of the sleepless nights or painful days that these kids and families have to go through on a daily basis throughout their fight against this awful disease. We get a small taste of their lives through this eye opening experience.
I now know that if it were not for that weekend I would not be the person that I am today. When people ask me about THON the answer is simple, you will never know until you go. I can't explain the impact that a person or event has, you just have to experience it for yourself.
Cancer is so limited... It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace. It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage.
One day we will find a cure, but for now we fight on.
