Back in 1973, 39 dance couples got together at Penn State University for a dance marathon.
The tradition picked up, and the phenomenon is now known as THON, a 46-hour dance marathon benefitting the Four Diamonds Fund of the Hershey Medical Center.
The Fundraiser
The money raised is used to help families with children suffering from pediatric cancer. The effort has spread across campus, and now involves over 15,000 student volunteers. It has raised over 69 million dollars since it has began and is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.
The fundraising takes place over the entire year: from organizations standing on corners with donation cans (everyone in the Northeast has probably seen them at some point) to mailing “Thonvelopes”, this fundraising effort stretches far beyond our campus to reach hundreds across the United States.
Organizations send a number of dancers based on their earnings. These dancers are up and on their feet for 46 inspirational hours, and it’s all worth it.
This year, THON broke records: $9,563,016.09 was raised, crushing last year’s total of $7.8 million.
Special Interest Organization Atlas raised $381,884.97, while the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega and the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority raised $327,786.51. Over a hundred organizations contributed to make an enormous contribution overall.
A Recap of the Night
For every second of dancing, 709 dancers were cheered on by the fully packed Bryce Jordan Center, which holds 16,000.
Music was constantly being played and games were brought out to keep dancers entertained. A special line dance is traditionally developed and by the end, the entire stadium knew it and was dancing along in synchrony.
The children also came out on the floor to meet and dance with their dancers. Morale Committees were assigned to specific dancers to help them get through and offer food and water when needed. Every now and then, the dancers were given massages to ease their worn out bodies.
Throughout the days, different musicians performed and some of the children even put on acts such as raps or juggling. All of the sports teams performed choreographed dances, with the football team coming out on top.
Toward the end, families of previous THON children came out to speak of their THON experiences. It was a truly emotional moment.
The Final Hour
The final hour was an adrenaline fueled rush as the band “Go Go Gadjet” performed some high-octane tracks before the final numbers were revealed. Overall, it was an amazing night filled with fun and hope.
