When the countdown ended and the music began at 6 p.m. on Friday, 707 Penn State students got to their feet on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center, where they’ll remain through 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Thousands more joined them throughout the arena as THON Weekend 2023 kicked off with a theme of “Foster the Magic.”
Now in its 51st year, THON and the annual dance marathon from which its name is derived have raised more than $204 million for the Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital to support pediatric cancer patients and their families. The world’s largest student-run philanthropy has helped ensure that no family of a childhood cancer patient receives a bill for treatment at the Children’s Hospital, expanded the services for those patients and advanced research.
That fundraising, which includes a record $13.7 million raised last year, is about more than a number, said Suzanne Graney, executive director of Four Diamonds. It reflects “the love and care,” that now generations of students have dedicated to THON’s mission.
“It is truly breathtaking when I think about the vastness of what has happened and how many people have been able to be helped because we have so many students and community members who care so much about kids and want to help all of us collectively get to that day when we get to dance in celebration,” Graney said on Friday afternoon.
The 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping event at the BJC is the culmination of year-round efforts by students to provide not only financial help, but also emotional support to Four Diamond families.
In addition to working to raise money, individual students and organizations are matched with families with whom they develop strong relationships, and throughout the year, students and families take part in other events like the annual Family Carnival.
“This year has been a year of incredible successes for the THON community and that’s all attributed to the 16,500 student volunteers who we have working day in and day out to help us further our mission,” THON 2023 Executive Director Lily Pevoto said.
THON Weekend is a party, a reunion and a homecoming for Four Diamond patients and their families, as well as a time to remember and emphasize its mission “For The Kids.”
The past two years were unusual ones for THON because of COVID-19. In 2021, THON weekend was a mostly virtual affair and last year came with a host of required COVID precautions.
Based on guidance from Penn State Health Children’s Hospital leadership and physicians, COVID and influenza vaccinations are “highly encouraged,” but not required for attendees this year. Masks are not mandatory either. The organization does urge anyone with flu-like symptoms not to attend.
For many Four Diamonds families, THON has become an annual destination. This year, 30 families will be attending for the first time.
“We’re really excited for this weekend to be a moment where families can truly just step away from the diagnosis and we’ll be able to let kids just be kids,” Pevoto said.
Letting kids have a chance to be kids is what Charles and Irma Millard had in mind when they founded Four Diamonds in 1972, after their son Christopher died of cancer at the age of 14.
THON 2023 marks the second time since the student organization officially partnered with Four Diamonds as its sole beneficiary in 1977 (it split funds among various charities before that) that the Four Diamonds’ cofounders will not be in attendance. Charles Millard died at the age of 93 in November 2021.
The Millard family presence continues on with their daughter, Stacia Millard Bird.
“My dad didn’t miss one,” Bird said. “It was what he lived for in his later years. That was what kept him going, knowing that he was going to be able to come and see this… It was definitely the highlight of his life.”
It will be the highlight for many families for years to come, as well, and that is a reason to be thankful, Graney said.
“One of the things that we always think about when we think about THON is gratitude,” Graney said. “We are so grateful for the 16,500 students that give more than five million hours of their time every year to make THON happen, and they’re making it happen for the kids.”
Before the marathon began, State College Mayor Ezra Nanes took the stage at the Bryce Jordan Center and proclaimed the borough the “City of THON.” And he expressed that gratitude to the families, the volunteers and the dancers.
“This weekend, this town is your town,” Nanes said. “This town belongs to our Four Diamonds families.
“From this moment, we are united in our efforts to bring love and support to children and families impacted by childhood cancer. So dancers, I admire you. You are our heroes this weekend. I wish you good luck.”
