THON dance team readies for fund-raising event
Members of the 2007 THON dance team at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, are gearing up for a full slate of fund-raising activities to meet this year’s $40,000 goal, a contribution to an overall pot of money that will help children with cancer. During the annual event called the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon or THON, Penn State University’s 19 branch campuses compete to earn the highest fund-raising total.
Donations benefit The Four Diamonds Fund, Conquering Childhood Cancer, at the Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary of THON participation, the Penn State Fayette team this year has 30 student members who will join 15,000 others from campuses across the state to come closer to finding a cure for pediatric cancer.
Throughout all nine years, the Penn State Fayette team has placed first or second for the highest fund-raising total among all branch campuses. Last year, the team placed second, missing the mark by only $2,000.
This year, THON chairwoman Amanda Newell, a sophomore at Penn State Fayette, said she is confident the team will reach its goal and rise back to the top.
“It would be nice to bring first place back to Fayette County” said Newell.
While the competition among the branch campuses “puts a competitive edge” on the event, “team members know the kids are the ones winning in the end,” Newell added.
The students hope to achieve their fund-raising goal with the help of a variety of fund-raising events, including some new activities.
Events the THON team is looking at include a talent show, a blood drive, a Mini-THON, Rock the Cure featuring live music, a Black Friday Bake Sale and two new events, a celebrity auction and Mr. and Mrs. Penn State University, according to Janice Collins, programming team captain.
Though dates are tentative, the THON team is scheduled to solicit donations from the public the first weekend in November and other weekends in months following.
In addition to these activities, a Fill-A-Diamond donation box will be placed at the Uniontown Mall to garner contributions from the public.
Other fund-raising activities will focus on area businesses, which, in turn for donating, will have their name and possibly phone number printed on a THON T-shirt, according to John Brant, financial team captain.
Fund-raising activities will conclude with the Fayette campus THON team’s 10th anniversary celebration when the team’s 2007 fund-raising total will be announced.
Since the start of their participation in the event, Penn State Fayette students have raised more than $332,000 for The Four Diamonds fund, according to Chad Long, who now advises the THON team.
Over the past 35 years, Penn State students university-wide have raised more than $41 million for the cause, helping thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer.
To make the experience even more real, the Penn State Fayette THON team will get to meet a beneficiary of their hard work: a 16-year-old Pleasant Hall boy afflicted with neuroblastoma. His cancer is in remission, according to team members.
The THON event culminates every February with a no-sitting, no-sleeping, 48-hour dance marathon.
Newell participated in the dance marathon last year and returned with a feeling of personal fulfillment.
“It’s an experience you can never get from anything else,” she said. “It takes a lot of dedication, but is definitely worthwhile.”
For further information, visit the THON Web site at www.thon.org
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