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.
