Websters Dictionary defines the word Journey as “an act or instance of traveling from one place to another”.  Over the past 40 years, THON has certainly been on a journey.  It started from humble beginnings in the HUB Ballroom, to growing in the White Building and in Rec Hall, and now to its current home in the BJC.  It has gone from raising just over $2,000 in 1973 to $9.56 million in 2011.  But, aside from the larger journey of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, there are all of the other journeys that have helped to shape THON as a whole; smaller journeys.  There have been tens of thousands of dancers and THON Volunteers throughout these past 40 years.  And, for all those journeys, there is a story.  These are the stories of THON and its volunteers throughout the years. 

Jamie Hawthorn, Dance Marathon 2002 & 2003:

I transferred to Penn State as a junior. I had already been a member of my sorority, Tri Delt, at James Madison and moved right in with the Penn State chapter. I was excited and honored to be a part of a chapter with such a long history of dedication to THON. I was a Rules and Regs committee member in 2002 and a R&R captain in 2003. THON was how I found my niche at Penn State.

THON is wonderful in that it unites students from a variety of different Greek chapters and student organizations, all working together for one common goal: to be For The Kids. As a Penn State student it is quite easy to be trapped in the Happy Valley bubble, but THON enables students to not only be aware of the brokenness in the real world, but also to do something about it. We were all created to live for something bigger than ourselves. We all desire to be in a tight-knit community that works for the greater good.  THON provides students with the opportunity to joyfully serve others.

A fellow captain once spoke to me of the depression he would experience each year after THON ended. When you’re living and breathing THON for 6 months and then it abruptly ends, it can leave an emptiness in your heart that you weren’t expecting.  My involvement with THON gave me the opportunity to give and give and give some more, but the greatest thing that THON gave me was that it showed me that I wanted to live my life in service to others, to be a part of something greater than myself. 

I can remember canning in New Jersey on a very cold Saturday in February. A car approached me and the man rolled down his window and the back window of the car. He thanked me while pointing to his daughter in the back seat and said that his daughter had received care at Hershey Medical and they were so grateful for us. Some of my fellow canners were complaining of the cold a short while later and wanted to pack up. I was motivated to stay out as long as possible.

If I had to use one word to describe THON, it would be grand. It is bigger than any one person- any one Greek chapter- any one campus. It brings together thousands of people for one purpose: For The Kids. The scope and scale of the vision, the event, the donations, everything about it is grand. THON is amazing. Of all the things you will spend your time doing in college, it is one of the greatest things you will do with your time in college. However, your days with THON will come to an end: Every March and again upon graduation. We all know that feeling of  “THON’s over…now what?” Realize what draws you into THON- the grandiosity of it, the selflessness of it, the community of it- and seek that out in other places as well.

Jessica (Passero) Kapadia, Dance Marathon 2004:

THON 2005 is the one that stands out to me the most, probably since that’s the one year that I was a captain. I headed up a Communications committee along with two other co-captains, and the year-long effort we put in with our Overall, our fellow captains, and our commitee members made those 48 hours spent in Rec Hall all the more meaningful. I had worked the final hours of THON in previous years, but being on the floor for the fundraising total reveal that year is a moment I’ll never forget. I remember applauding the dancers (who didn’t get the benefit of two small sleep breaks, like us captains did) and then collapsing on the floor right along with them shortly afterwards.

 

Being on Communications meant that you worked a couple sleep shifts at THON. Tip-toeing in between cots set up on the Rec Hall racquetball courts and waking up a complete stranger is something you definitely don’t do everyday.  Waking up captains from a deep sleep was always a comical experience, especially when you are seriously sleep deprived yourself.

 

THON 2005 was the first time that we had the blue rubber THON bracelets for sale, and they became a serious campus fashion accessory (along with a serious fundraiser) that year. That little blue bracelet is another big memory from THON that year.

 

I continue to support THON through giving to different fundraising events throughout the year. I also make sure to give to the canners I see in Philly whenever I can, especially during the really cold days in the winter.

 

To all of the current THON volunteers, I’d like to say thanks for keeping the amazing THON tradition alive. THON represents so much of what makes us Penn State alums proud to be a Penn Stater, and without your continued hard work and dedication to the cause, it wouldn’t be the success that it continues to be each year. THON ON!

In the fall of 2004, my first semester as a Nittany Lion, I checked
out THON as an involvement opportunity on campus.  I spent two years
as a Red Shirt, but while serving THON in this aspect, the spirit took
hold and I wanted to do more.  I solicited for donations, canned in
the freezing cold, and during winter break of 2006-2007, I received
the coveted email from my organization’s THON chair congratulating me
on being selected to dance in THON 2007 after raising over $3000 For
The Kids. I was beyond excited to represent my organization in the
first THON in the BJC, and be one of the “Many Hearts, One Home.”  As
THON weekend approached, I wore in a new pair of sneakers, stocked up
on Color Wars swag, and cherished some last-minute encouragement from Emily, our THON child. She said THON would change my life, and I was about to see that happen.

Between the adrenaline-pumping walk to the BJC, the competitive spirit
of Color Wars, and the heartfelt Family Hour, it is hard to choose a
moment that sticks out as the most memorable.  As we stood up
together, 708 strong, on Friday afternoon, I knew that this was my
family.  Together we got through the cheers and the tears, and we
stood for those who couldn’t stand for themselves. Seeing the smiles
on the faces of so many children who, besides this weekend, did not
have much to smile about, gave me the courage to go on when I was
hurting and exhausted. The energy of the crowd surpassed anyone’s
expectations, as thousands of students and visitors supported us every
step of the way. As the fundraising total swept across the stage on
Sunday afternoon, I couldn’t hold back the tears and I realized that I
would do this again tomorrow if it meant that we could further help
these incredible families. A year later, I got my chance as I danced
for a second time.

In a word, THON is hope. It is hope for the children for whom we
dance, and for their families. It is hope that we can come together as
a family and fight. It is hope that we can inspire others to do the
same. It is hope that we can represent what Penn State stands for, and
show that we can make a difference.

As an alumnus, I can’t imagine missing THON weekend. I’ve continued to
raise money by canning with my younger sister, and stood by her as she
danced in 2011. I’ve supported my school district’s mini-THON and
helped to spread the word about The Four Diamonds Fund in our area. I
look forward to cheering on my youngest sister in her first year as a
hospitality captain. The THON spirit never dies, and until we find a
cure, I’ll be there to fight for one.