THON has raised over $137 million in its first 45 years and this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park, $10,151,663.93 was added to that total. This surpassed the amount raised in 2017 at $10,045,478.44. The record stands at $13.4 million, raised in 2014, according to Penn State news.

​

THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, raises money for Four Diamonds, a charitable organization based out of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, to help fight pediatric cancer. Four Diamonds was established in 1972 by Charles and Irma Millard after their son, Chris, died from pediatric cancer. The organization has covered 100 percent of all medical expenses for cancer patients treated at Penn State Children’s Hospital, according to the Four Diamonds website. The fund also promotes research for finding new treatments and to improve existing therapies.

​

“When you make the investment in research, you have the potential not only to save more lives, but also to minimize the short- and long-term effects of treatment, which is particularly important in children and adolescents with cancer,” said Dr. Valerie Brown, Director of Experimental Therapeutics in the Children’s Hospital’s Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, reported Penn State News.

​

THON 2018 started on Friday at 6 p.m. and ended 46 hours later at 4 p.m. on Sunday. With no breaks for sleep, participants danced the hours away to music and performances by groups like Misterwives, and watched THON children performance in a fashion show, talent show and pep rallies.

​

The top earning special interest organization was Atlas, which raises money for the Four Diamonds. “Together we ensure that no parent sees a bill their insurance doesn’t cover, no child fights alone, and we are banded together in the fight against pediatric cancer,” reads the Atlas website.

​

“As expected, it [THON] was amazing! Atlas was the top earning special interest organization, I am very proud of everyone,” said the Atlas fundraising outreach chair, Shane Lutton, a junior studying biological engineering at University Park. "I THON so that the lives of a family affected by pediatric cancer can be made just a little bit easier, and so that one day, no family will be affected ever again. I THON because I’ve seen the effects of cancer on an adult firsthand and cannot imagine those same pressures being put on a child. I THON for Atlas’ four families; the Smiths, Brobsons, Gerenas, and Johnsons, and the future of every child touched by cancer,” said Lutton.

​

Every year, the Penn State commonwealth campuses send students to University Park to participate in THON. Four dancers, Frank Casertano, Kirsten Chabalie, Nicole Kuhn, and Autumn Mozick, represented Behrend, along with approximately 50 Behrend students and alumni. Matt Hammel, a junior psychology major, was one of the student to head down to University Park. Although he did not dance, he was there in support of the dancers. Hammel has been to five THONs. His family is tied to THON through participating as Penn State students and having a family member diagnosed. Although Hammel has spent so much time participating in THON, he still feels the full emotions throughout the event.

​

Throughout the event, there were line dances that are created by dancer relations captains. There are also a number of performances from various bands. On Saturday night, the sports teams had a lip sync battle, with the winner being chosen by the audience, with men’s gymnastics taking the gold.

​

THON continues to impress, and smaller-scaled events throughout the 2018-2019 year will help prepare Penn State for THON 2019.