Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
KIDS INSPIRE STUDENTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Locals travel to Collegeville for THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world
MIDDLETOWN » Students with a passion for community service are uniting this weekend for THON, the largest studentrun philanthropy in the world.
Enacted in 1973, more than 16,500 student volunteers work together to raise funds for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital to support children battling cancer.
Although fundraising takes place throughout the year, it culminates this weekend inside the
Bryce Jordan Center at University Park in College Township, home to Penn State University’s main campus.
Regionally, students at Penn State Brandywine support children battling cancer thanks to the existence of THON.
“Student engagement and community involvement are hallmarks of Penn State Brandywine,” said Chancellor Marilyn Wells of Penn State Brandywine. “Participating in meaningful service is a vital aspect of the Brandywine student experience, and THON is just one of
many ways our students are making a difference.”
She continued, “I am inspired by our students’ efforts to impact not only their local communities but the world.”
“We have a half-dozen or so students going to THON weekend,” said Bill Tyson, director of marketing and communications at Penn State Brandywine.
The festivities last for 46 hours and began on Friday and continue until 4 p.m. Sunday.
“There are about 700 student dancers who are on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park and who stand the entire 46 hours,” Tyson said, adding that there are more than 15,000 people in the stands cheering on the dancers.
Although Brandywine usually has student dancers, however this year they are only on the floor but compose up a very important part of THON’s foundation: its volunteers.
The Penn State students from Middletown are part of a group known as Brandywine Benefiting THON.
Tyson said this group has raised funds during the past five months and those funds will go toward the total amount raised overall by THON. The total raised annually is announced at the end of THON weekend.
“I’m not sure yet how much we raised at Brandywine this year, but we’ve raised more than $100,000 over the past five years at our campus,” Tyson said.
In honor of their noble charitable work, state Sen. Tom Killion, R-9th of Middletown, presented a resolution declaring this THON Week in Pennsylvania to several students at Penn State Brandywine.
Emily Bush, 22, is a senior and psychology major at Penn State Brandywine who grew up in Bayville, N.J.
She started volunteering with THON her sophomore year.
“I believe that children who are diagnosed with any type of cancer at a young age deserve to be kids. They deserve to live
the lives of a regular child. That is why I believe THON is extremely important to me,” Bush said, adding that is why she gives back.
Bush noted that her favorite inspirational quote is “every accomplishment starts with the decision to try” by President John F. Kennedy.
And her willingness to try, to make a difference in the lives of children facing unspeakable calamities has reaped the reward of a grateful heart. “I have seen more smiles across people’s faces,” Bush said of the impact THON has on individuals who attend. “I’ve seen smiles across kids’ faces who have survived cancer, who are in remission, who are still battling it. I’ve seen smiles across the students, across alumni; it’s incredible. That just makes THON more amazing than it already is.”
During the last four hours of THON on Sunday, there is live music, speakers and a memorial for kids who have survived their battle against cancer, and recognition of the children who lost those battles.
“It’s emotional, but it’s worth it,” Bush said of THON’s annual four-hour ending.
Junior Justin Talley, 21, studies human development and family studies at Penn State Brandywine. He’s been volunteering with THON since his freshman year.
“It takes something that is usually seen as a sad or upsetting topic and kind of takes a positive spin on it and allows the children to know that, even though they are going through something tough, they are not alone,” said Talley, who is from Upper Darby.
He said his favorite inspirational quote is, “if you knew what awaited you at the top, you would be angry at yourself for walking away now.”
On Friday afternoon, Talley and Bush left their Penn State satellite campus in the Media region of Delaware County en route to Collegeville to attend THON. They made the drive west with Keith Wagner, 21, a good friend and fellow Brandywine student.
“What inspires me to give back through volunteer work is because I have had family members who battled cancer,” Wagner said. “I THON for them.”
Wagner studies informational science technology at Penn State Brandywine. He’s from Ridley Park.
Wagner continued, “THON is a symbol of hope and inspiration to the children at Hershey medical and other children around the world. The communities that celebrate THON give those children reassurance that they are not alone in their battle.”
Although Wagner has not danced yet, he plans to do so next year along with his good friend Justin
Talley. “This event is for the kids and gives them an opportunity to escape their illness and just be kids,” Wagner added.
THON raised more than $168 million for children battling cancer since its very first dance marathon held in 1973. After Sunday, that number will be significantly higher.
Wagner mentioned his favorite inspirational quote, citing the words of Megan Nicole O’Neal, who said, “Great things never come from comfort zones.”
Leaving their comfort zones, students like Wagner, Bush and Talley are part of a movement to create change as part of the THON community.
“For me as a child I noticed in my town there weren’t a lot of volunteers,” Talley said. “With everything that I do, I keep this one motto: to be the inspiration and support that you needed as a child.”