Schools

Local Students Participate in PSU's THON

This year's efforts raised more than $10.6 million.

On Sunday afternoon, students at Penn State screamed, cried and bounced with joy as the total for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon was revealed – a shocking $10,686,924.83.

More than 750 students "danced" – or stayed awake and on their feet – from 6 p.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Sunday for the culminating event of another year-long effort to raise money to fight pediatric cancer. The money raised goes to the Four Diamonds Fund.

Thousands of others were involved in the organization, preparation and coordination of the 46-hour dance marathon at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The theme this year was "Brighten Every Journey." The annual event draws not only many members of the student body and surrounding community, but attracts alumni as well.

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Patch found a few of those involved Penn State students from the Bucks and Montgomery counties area and talked to them during the weekend. These are their stories.

Ryan

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For Ryan Quinzan-Singer, the draw was about making the children's emotional burden a little lighter. A Penn State junior from Churchville, a dancer for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, found that in his mom's fight with cancer, the emotional toll was sometimes just as hard as the phsyical one.

"Something THON does is give emotional support," Quinzan-Singer said. "I want to be a part of that as much as possible."

Many organizations involved in the Dance Marathon are assigned a family with a Four Diamonds child to interact with throughout the year and during the weekend. 

Though he hadn't met his organization's family until the beginning of THON, he said his goal for the weekend was to get to know them much better. He is part of a set of twins and the family also had a set of twins, which he said was "pretty cool."

What Quinzan-Singer predicted would get him through the weekend was relying on the energy of other people around him.

Andrew

Andrew Lambert was on a little bit of a different path during THON. The Doylestown native was a captain for a family relations committee, which means he spent his entire weekend in the Bryce Jordan Center too, but he was in charge.

Roaming the floor with a headset and a clipboard, Lambert was one of the organizers who made sure the weekend ran smoothly. However, it wasn't his first experience in the driver's seat. Previously he worked on a communications committee and as a public relations captain.

The Penn State senior said this year he was enjoying his ability to interact with the families as much as he could. He helped coordinate different activities for the children, including an area called "No Grown-Ups Allowed" where children were allowed to play with students without their parents.

"We try and uphold the emotional aspect and keep the kids at heart," Lambert said. "People can get caught up in totals."

He said his favorite part of the weekend is generally the last four hours – this includes "family hour" where families share their stories and their personal battles and is normally a significant part of the event.

"It really is all about the kids," he said.

One thing Lambert said was amazing was how much the families want to give back to Penn State students who help them.

"So many of the families want nothing more than to help us," he said.  

Alicia

Alicia Smith is another student who has made her way around the different committees that make THON run. The fifth-year senior from Hatboro was a public relations captain this year, but had worked on operations, special events and supply logistics committees before.

Her favorite part was also the final four hours.

"It's really cool to see," Smith said. "The [Bryce Jordan Center] energy is amazing."

Though she said she thought about dancing one year, Smith said she's much happier on the planning side of things.

She said she decided to get involved because she'd had several family members diagnosed with cancer and experienced the hardships firsthand.

"It's heartbreaking to think about parents having to go through that," she said.

Her way of helping out with the families is to make herself available. She said if she has something to do but a child stops her, she'll take a moment and give him or her a pick-me-up.

Even though committee members and captains get breaks, their jobs are still exhausting and mentally draining. One way she said she keeps herself motivated throughout the weekend is to look to the dancers.

She said she also looks to the kids.

"They have to endure so much more every day," she said.


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