Penn State Pride- $7.8 Million for the KIDS!

Of everything I've been involved in throughout my life, I am most proud of having been involved with THON, Penn State's dance marathon for pediatric cancer. THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world and it takes place every February (for almost 40 years now!) at Penn State. Students spend the entire year raising money and getting involved in numerous ways. Then, about 700 dancers dance for 46 (used to be 48, back when I danced) hours. Yes, 46 hours. No sitting, no sleeping. The money raised benefits The Four Diamonds Fund, which helps children getting treatment at Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA (the sweetest place on Earth). There is SO much I could say about THON, more than I would ever have the time to write here. And I don't even think I can express in words the magic of THON and everything involved with it. I could tell you what it was like to stand and not sleep for 48 hours, and about how that is nothing compared to the pain these children go through. I could tell you about all the families and children who touched my life. I could tell you about how THON is run, or about what goes on during those 48 hours. I could tell you about all the events leading up to THON. I could explain to you how money is raised, and where the money goes. I could tell you about being a dancer, a morale captain, and a family relations captain. I could tell you that THON took up the most part of my junior and senior years of college. But no words could ever express the love that is felt when tens of thousands of students come together THON weekend. I could never describe how THON changed my life. I encourage you to visit www.thon.org for more information.

All I really can say is that I am SO proud that my school raised 7.8 MILLION dollars this year alone. Congrats to everyone involved this year! Oh, and I also want to say this ... FTK! We are ... Penn State!

I leave you with a few old THON pics of mine. I don't have many pics from pre-2004 on my computer. But of the 10 or so photos from THON stored in iphoto, I had a hard time choosing! Too many memories! LOVE YOU PSU!!!!!!!!!!!

With my THON family at THON 2006.

Dancing in THON in 2002. With some sorority sisters, our paired fraternity, and the parents of one of the children.

With some Hasbeens at THON 2007.

On the stage during the last four hours of THON 2003. Yellow love. Most fun people in the world!

Me leading the first line dance of 2003.

Me with the siblings of my THON family and my friend and fellow Family Relations Captain at THON 2004.