Ragnar Relay runners go the distance FTK

Cutting corners doesn’t sound like such a bad idea, but kids with cancer can’t cut corners.

They have to beat cancer every second of every day.

That’s why when HopeExpress runners in the Ragnar Relay ran 200.1 miles for kids with cancer they run every step of every mile until they reach the finish line.

The Ragnar Relay was completed two weekends ago by 12 runners that rotated for all of the 200.1 miles from Stauffer Park in Lancaster, PA to the Pocono Mountains. That’s a 2 and a half hour car drive, but it’s a demanding 31-hour journey for runners.

Hope Express, which was founded by Hank Agnus in 2006, goes beyond spreading awareness and raising funds for the Four Diamonds Fund. In fact, when THON arrives in 117 days, Hope Express will be arriving at THON for the 6^th consecutive year to connect Four Diamonds Children from Hershey Medical Center to the Bryce Jordan Center.

Of course, they’ll run the entire way to THON, all 135 miles, a 24-hour trip between two teams of runners.

“The Hope Express Team runs 3-mile legs, and our Extreme Team runs 6-mile legs,” said Molly Thomas, a moraler for the Hope Express Team.

On the day before THON, the runners and moralers spend time with the Four Diamonds Families that cannot attend THON due to poor health.

“The kids there love it,” Thomas said.

The way that Hope Express has connected children in the Hershey Medica Center goes beyond running, too. Some of the thousands of letters that THON dancers receive throughout the weekend are from children at the Hershey Medical Center during THON weekend.

Those letters are carried in backpacks that the runners have on for the entire duration of their marathon.

It’s just one more way to make sure THON is felt by every kid with cancer.

Canning for the kids

Maria Lamagna’s first canning trip for THON was to Rockville, MD, nearly 200 miles away from her home in Allison Park, PA.

“I was the only freshman going, so I was a little nervous,” Maria said, who has only missed one canning trip in three years since. “Everyone really talked up canning trips, so I was just really excited and anxious.”

And Maria wasn’t the only one a little bit worried.

“I remember being a little anxious with her being a freshman and going to stay at someone else’s home so far away, so we had a lot of questions,” Pam Lamagna, Maria’s mom, said.

Canners and their families alike have reason for concern.

Who are canners staying with? How will they get there? Will canners be safe where they can?

Fortunately, like many other first-time canners, Maria’s first canning trip was a success. And now, when thousands of canners spread out across Pennsylvania and surrounding states for THON’s canning weekends, Maria doesn’t always go far away from home. Instead, she’s brings canners to her hometown.

“We thought it was a great idea for her to bring people here to can,” Pam said. “We’re happy that she asked us.”

Maria’s most recent canning expedition, in which 17 other chemical engineers from AICHE joined her, was her third canning trip home in as many years.

“My parents are very social, so they love the idea of us canning here,” Maria said. “We’ve hosted one time every year since my sophomore year.”

Of course, when 18 college students arrive at the Lamagna doorstep once a year, hungry and exhausted from a near three-hour drive from University Park on a Friday night, you’d think the Lamagnas might be a little bit overwhelmed.

Not Maria’s parents.

Two homemade pizzas were waiting for the canners on the dining room table last weekend, and the Lamagnas, who run their own family cheese company, took requests for the rest of the night.

“We got here, and brought our bags downstairs,” Doug Marple said, a first-time canner. “Her parents were already making pizza, great pizza, whatever you wanted. They had green peppers, white pizza, banana peppers, anything. We were well fed.”

The Lamagna household has gained such a reputation for its Italian food and an abundance of games that canners affectionately call it the Dave and Busters house.

But all of this just for one canning weekend?

“We look forward to this,” Rudy Lamagna, Maria’s dad, said. “We try to give them whatever they need.”

The morning after the Friday night festivities in the Lamagna home last weekend, the canners ditched their comfortable confines and canned in Maria’s hometown, but a few challenges have arose for every canner in the last year. Among those challenges, agreed Ana Duggan, Kate Foster and Alison Filippellei, were negative reactions from a minority of potential donators.

“We really believe in this cause,” Ana Duggan said. “We’re doing this for kids with pediatric cancer.”

Unfortunately, negative publicity for Penn State has unjustifiably reached THON, but canners say that they try to ignore hecklers.

“I think a lot of people appreciate what we’re doing,” Maria said. “Usually people just say thank you and donate, so we don’t pay attention to any negative reactions toward us.”

Overall, Maria and her group of canners raised $3,341.54 for the Four Diamonds Fund last weekend.

“I’ll miss this so much,” said Maria, who only has three canning trips left to take before she graduates in April. “I look forward to being on the other side of canning, too, and donating to kids when I’m an alumnus."

THON So Hard

Sometimes THON creeps its way into your everyday life in weird, cooky ways, especially when it comes to music.

Whenever Taio Cruz’s Dynamite hits the radio, I immediately sing along, “I throw my diamonds in the air sometimes, sayin ay-oh, FTK-oh.”

Of course, I only do this when I am alone in the car with the windows down, at THON or around other THONers.

Then, just this weekend, I heard a few canners sing “THON So Hard,” while they were outside and listening to another car’s music with the windows down. Of course, they were just changing the lyrics to Jay-Z’s Ni**as in Paris.

Still, these are just two examples of how much THON becomes a part of your life once you catch what a friend of mine, Molly Thomas, calls the THON bug.  I can’t really explain what the THON bug is, but everyone that THONs has it.

But sometimes THON doesn’t creep its way into your everyday life; it demands your attention when one of our own is in dire need of support.

Immediately following my announcement that the blog would take a hiatus from April to September, one of our Four Diamonds families, the Whiteheads, caught the attention of THONers across Penn State.  Emily Whitehead was in the hospital battling her second relapse of leukemia when her parents posted a status on Facebook that wrenched the hearts out of every person who read it.

“Emily may not make it through the night. Please pray her lung function and kidney function improve. Please pray she is not scared and not in pain. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, love and support.”

That was on April 24, and I’m thankful to say that Emily is still fighting and surviving cancer every day of her life.

Emily, and many other children battling cancer, are the reason we THON so hard. 

They are the reason we dance for 46 hours during THON weekend.

They are the reason that THON creeps its way into our everyday life.

THON Countdown: 137 days!

Dance 4 THON to Take Hiatus, Return in September

This will be the last post on Dance 4 THON until next September.

That is when THON will reboot itself with fundraising events and with events for THON children.

Because this will be this blog’s last post for the next four months, I wanted to tell you about how I learned about THON and what THON means to THON volunteers. This will hopefully interest you and serve as an introduction to new visitors to the blog.

On Feb. 25, 2010, I was the managing editor of the Behrend Beacon. I was in charge of all of the newspaper’s content, and our lead story about 2010’s THON weekend wasn’t submitted by the reporter assigned to write the story.

I met with Molly Thomas, who was Behrend’s 2010 THON chair, at 10 p.m. to briefly interview her. What was supposed to be a five-minute interview turned into an hour-long conversation.

I left Thomas’ office shaken.

Her vivid recollection of THON weekend gave me a genuine interest in THON.  Thomas and I stayed in contact, because I wanted to get involved in THON at the start of the next school.

Unfortunately, I had to take a year off of school to resolve some health issues, and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to return to Penn State to contribute to THON.

Three months ago, I fulfilled the commitment I told Thomas I would make and joined THON.

I anxiously walked into my first THON meeting with New Kensington THON. Around 50 students gathered for the meeting and watched Andrew Holodnik dance to “Jump Around.” For the next hour, the atmosphere in the room was electrifying, as New Kensington’s chairs spoke about THON and their plans for the semester.

Three months later, I’m extremely thankful for the opportunities that THON presents to both Four Diamonds children and to THON volunteers.

THON is source of ongoing support and friendship for children with cancer.

THON gives its volunteers a purpose we’ve probably never experienced before.

The average Penn State student goes to school expecting to learn, make great friends and to attend a few football games.

Then, the average Penn State student learns about THON and gets more than they ever bargained for at Penn State. THON volunteers get to make a difference in the world long before a diploma is in their hands.

More importantly, THON volunteers get to change a child’s life every day.

Springfield's Mini-THON Raises Funds, Awareness Like Penn State's THON

Springfield High School's mini-THON raised $170,262.58 in 2012.
Photo submitted by Chelsea Pierce.

Mini-THONs are just like Penn State’s THON, but they’re run by high school, middle school and elementary students. In 2012, there were 80 mini-THONs.

Springfield High School has had mini-THONs for the last 10 years in the memory of Steve Stefani, a Social Studies teacher who passed away in 2002 from lung cancer. Springfield rose over $170,000 this year.

“A mini-THON is a chance for high school students to do the same thing the big THON does,” said John Gildea, who has been Springfield’s mini-THON’s faculty advisor for the last seven years. “It allows students to have leadership and compassion for these children, and it allows them to come together as a school and raise donations for the Four Diamonds Fund.”

Gildea is a Penn State alumnus who danced three times at Penn State’s THON, so he knows what THON is about. He brings students who are a part of Springfield’s leadership team up to Penn State’s THON each year.

“It really hits home for them when they see family hour and the total being revealed,” Gildea said.

The experience for some of Gildea’s students has prompted them to attend Penn State.

Nathan Blass Sees THON from Different Vantage Points

Nate Blass poses with 2012's THON Graphic Design Captain Lauren Byerly.
Photo submitted by Nathan Blass.

Nate Blass experiences THON from opposing perspectives, because he is a volunteer and a Four Diamonds child.

Volunteering in High School

Blass, who has fought cancer for the last eight months, learned about THON five years ago during his junior year at Cumberland Valley High School. He didn’t know about his school’s 15-hour mini-THON until the day of the event.

“One of my friends asked if I was going,” Blass said. “It turns out a bunch of my friends were going, and I went and had a lot of fun.”

Blass fully bought into THON after seeing Cumberland Valley’s Family Hour.

“I was sold on it,” Blass said.

Elaine Tanella Passes Torch to Will Martin

Elaine Tanella and Will Martin have devoted much of their college experience to THON.
Photo submitted by Elaine Tanella.

There is something truly inspirational in the way that Elaine Tanella and Will Martin talk about THON.

It's not so much in what they say about THON, but how they say it. Their voices reflect a unique passion between the work they've done for THON, what it means to them and what they know it means to others.

As THON’s 2012 overall chairperson, Tanella dedicated every spare second she had to THON. It’s time she would never trade back.

“THON has had a tremendous impact on my life,” Tanella said. “You give so much to THON each year, and no matter how much you give you get so much more back. I couldn’t imagine my life without THON.”

Being THON’s overall chair also put into perspective how much of an impact she could make individually.

“I think what surprised me the most about being THON chair was the impact you can have individually,” Tanella said. “It’s not that it really surprised me, but it never ceases to amaze me the impact you can have on people, how much support they give you and how much you give back.”

THON needed plenty of support this year to overcome obstacles out of its control, but Tanella’s solution was always simple and clear.

Vinny Carrano Dances for Sister Lauren

1995’s THON weekend was the first of many for Vinny Carrano, but it was also his sister’s last.

Carrano’s sister Lauren, 9, lost her two-year battle with cancer in 1996.

He has returned to THON weekend nearly every year since in her memory.

“THON was our family’s favorite place,” Carrano said. “It was somewhere we could go and forget about everything else in the world.”

Dance 4 THON changes its course

Every year after THON's finale, THON slows down into a period of planning for the upcoming THON year.

New THON chairpersons at each campus will be busy preparing THON events for next summer, fall and winter.

While THON maps out its next steps, this blog will take steps in a new direction.

Four Penn State New Kensington THON dancers rock BJC

Lauren Richards, Erin Prager, Kelsie Nury, Joe Mandak, and Andrew Holodnik are all smiles before driving to THON. Photo by Penn State New Kensington Student Life.

Joe Mandak's body slumped back into the arms of his THON moralers.

He was beginning to faint after dancing for 45 and a half hours when Penn State New Kensington moralers slowly lowered him to the floor. EMTs stretchered him away and into an ambulance a few minutes later.

Mandak had become severely dehydrated and exhausted from dancing for so long.

“I hope I didn’t kill the momentum for anyone,” Mandak said.

New Kensington’s student section fell silent as Mandak lie motionless. But instead of killing the weekend’s momentum, it brought everyone closer together.

“I think a really defining moment was whenever Joe wasn’t doing well, and all of New Kensington was cheering his name,” said New Kensington THON dancer Erin Prager. “Then, people not from New Kensington were cheering him on, too. It really defined a real THON family.”

Prior to Mandak’s dance till he dropped saga, New Kensington’s THON dancers were living a dream.

Each dancer – Mandak, Prager, Keslie Nury and Andrew Holodnik – had determined months beforehand to become THON dancers.

Among other reasons, they each wanted to dance for children with cancer.

“I wanted to do everything I could do in my last year for THON,” Holodnik said.

THON dancer Q&A with Erin Prager

Erin Prager, a senior business administration major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

Being involved last year really opened my eyes to how big THON really is.

This was my last THON, so I wanted to go big and be a dancer.

THON dancer Q&A with Andy Holodnik

Andrew Holodnik, who is studying administration of justice, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

I’ve done THON for four years, and this is kind of my last year. I wanted to experience this. Plus, we are at a branch campus that does not have a THON family, so I wanted to hang out with the kids and realize we’re making a difference.

Also, I’ve had so much experience with pediatric cancer. My one cousin had leukemia, and one of my friend’s sons had neuroblastoma. So, I’ve realized what kids go through first hand.

I wanted to do everything I could do in my last year for THON. I’ve witnessed what it’s like to be a dancer. I think you see the true meaning of THON when you’re a dancer.

THON dancer Q&A with Kelsie Nury

Kelsie Nury, a freshman education major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

The people that danced last year kept talking about how amazing it was for them. Hearing them and they’re excitement about dancing was really motivating.

From our first meeting this year, I wanted the experience they had, so I just went for it and got it.

THON dancer Q&A with Joe Mandak III

Joe Mandak III, a senior communication major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

Basically, the passing of my grandfather motivated me. He died of throat cancer. I saw his pain and suffering, and he was on an incubator that kept him alive.

That hit me, and that’s how cancer began to play a role in my life. I can’t imagine a child going through that same thing.

After that, THON started popping up in the back of mind a lot. Someone had told me that being a dancer was so much more than just being there. I felt like I was really part of something, and the support of every dancer, child and New Kensington in the stands really passed my expectations.

THON's $10.68 million breaks record

Tables are set-up to serve dancers a meal.
Photo by Shawn Annarelli

I wish we never had to leave.

That is what I‘ll say when someone asks me about my experience at THON weekend.

The first minute

THON’s Overall Chairperson Elaine Tanella kicked off THON’s finale with a two-minute introduction before leading a 10-second countdown for dancers to stand up.

Everyone else stood and followed Tanella’s lead. When the dancers stood, the Bryce Jordan Center quaked. 

“I came to dance, dance, dance, dance,” hit the loudspeakers, and the 46-hour dance maraTHON was on.

THON's finale is two days away

I will be leaving for THON weekend in 42 hours.

I’ve got goosebumps just thinking about spending time with the kids, dancing and having one of the best experiences life can offer. Oh, and I’ve got some good news. You can still donate.

But I’ve got some bad news, too. 12,500 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and 2,300 children will lose their battle.

How to prepare for THON weekend

Will THON top last year's record $9.56 million effort? Photo by Shawn Inglima.

This is the most excited I’ve been in a long, long time and for good reason.

We are only five days away from THON.

This is an opportunity for students and THON families to celebrate another year of great efforts to raise funds and awareness in the fight against pediatric cancer.

Without further ado, here’s what you need to do to be ready for the best weekend of the year.

1. Bring Kleenex.

We all know THON weekend will be a lot of fun, so why would we want to bring Kleenex?

I’ve never been to THON weekend before, but I’ve talked to several THON veterans that said you should expect to cry. A lot. This weekend brings with it a mixed bottle of emotions.

How to prepare for canning

Photo submitted by Molly Thomas.

For those of us braving the wintery weather, we need to be prepared for anything during our last canning weekend.

1.  Bring the Right Attitude.

Wear a smile, and be attentive to onlookers. This appears engaging to bystanders. In order to raise donations and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer, we should appear friendly to others.

Lauren Richards is living, breathing THON

Photo submitted by Lauren Richards.

This week I interviewed Lauren Richards to learn about her experience with THON.

Choosing Lauren to talk to was no mistake. She is Penn State New Kensington’s THON chair, and more than one person has described her as “crazy” about THON.

Hopefully her experiences will encourage others to get involved, too.

On her favorite THON moment: “This year I went to THON's Family Carnival. There was a really little kid with glasses who was scared of Andrew Holodnik, one of our THON members, because Andrew was dressed up as a knight. He was just so shy, but he had a lot of fun. I just want to help kids like him.”

Rylee Dorer's fight for life

“I am a survivor,” giggles Rylee Dorer.

Her voice has a peculiar tone, surely too mature for an eight-year old. But Rylee is just that, a mature, curiously intellectual 8-year old cancer survivor.

Two years ago Rylee attended her brother Corbin’s soccer game and snacked on Goldfish. Suddenly, she felt her chest burning, and tears crawled down her cheeks. Amanda Dorer, Rylee’s mother, had her sip some water, only to have Rylee cry desperately while her chest aches intensified.

“I began loading the kids [Rylee, Corbin and their little sister Dalaney] into the car, but Rylee was okay when we were ready to go,” Amanda said.

Despite sleeping comfortably over night, Rylee woke up the next morning with severely bloodshot eyes and abnormal breathing. The family pediatrician prescribed her amoxicillin, but two days later a chest X-ray exposed a mass the size of an egg pressing against Rylee’s trachea.

Her life took a turn sharper than her chest pains.

Pies, Penny Wars and Canning

This Wednesday, during club rush, Penn State New Kensington THON made a strong push as we get closer to THON weekend.

THON set-up its club rush tables in New Kensington’s cafeteria and took pies in the face for two straight hours. Students and faculty paid one dollar to throw a pie at THON members and two dollars to get up close and personal for a can’t miss shot at someone’s face.

Admittedly, I missed my target on my first throw, so I went back, paid two more dollars and made sure I didn’t miss New Kensington THON chair Lauren Richards a second time.

The meaning of THON

Sometimes we do not get out of bed.

Maybe we don’t want to go to our first class, or maybe we're just too warm and comfortable to move.

Some people can’t get out of bed.

They are children with cancer that do want to go to class. To them, their beds are the least comfortable place in the world.

That’s where THON comes in.

An Introduction

Hello and welcome to my THON blog!

I'm Shawn Annarelli, a third-year journalism major who will report weekly news on Penn State's THON and occasionally write feature stories on children with cancer.

I'm going outside of my comfort zone with this blog. I have run a sports blog before. That and other sports reporting experiences have been rewarding, but I feel I need to switch it up and become more diverse.

I joined THON less than 24 hours ago. I've wanted to be a part of THON since I learned about it during my sophomore year at Penn State Behrend. Time spent in class, in newsrooms and at work always served as a buffer to me having the time to participate in THON.

I'm still doing all of those things, but I realized that if I join THON my greatest accomplishment at Penn State won't be graduating or writing a front page story.

It will be trying to make a difference in a child's life.