Oh, and I blog.

This is a pretty cool visual of what THON 2010 was.

penn state THON, thon 2010

penn state, state college life THON, thon 2010

No, it’s not my phone number. It’s how much money was raised through THON. Let me spell that out for you:

sevenmillionfourhundredninetythousandonehundredthirtythreedollarsandeightysevencents

Which, apparently, is a 12% increase from last year. Which is amazing in itself, but, even more so since the official fund raising began during the start of the financial crisis, and lasted until Sunday at 12 o’clock mid-day.

So, yeah, great stuff Penn State.

THON 2009 Total - raw video from David Morar on Vimeo.

This happened on Sunday February 22nd at the end of a 46-hour marathon, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, Penn State’s THON. This is the reveal of the total amount of money, over 7.4 million dollars donated to fight pediatric cancer.

(will be posting a couple more videos and pictures soon)

penn state, state college life PSU, THON, THON 2009

penn state pediatric cancer, PSU, THON

The title of this post is the motto of the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON ( or by its full name Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon ) and it means “For The Kids”. For what kids? The proceeds that students raise all throughout the year go to the Four Diamond Fund, set up to help conquer childhood cancer.  What for the kids? A two day, dance marathon (if you are one of the 700 dancers, you can’t sit or sleep) during the third weekend in February. Coincidentally, this weekend is the weekend in question.

Every year, 350 Penn State Student Organizations take pride in raising millions of dollars in order to help out kids who have childhood cancer. Over its 32-year existence, THON has raised over $52 million and has lent emotional support for families that are fighting against childhood cancer.

While not directly part of THON, I am honestly proud to be part of a student population that has been keeping this tradition going for such a long time, with selflessness and enduring great pains. I will try to go to THON, to experience the thrill, the excitement, the sadness, and the boost that you get from being in that massive place, the Bryce Jordan Center.

I will, however, be checking the official dancer blog, the live webcast, the Collegian THON articles, and, of course, winner of best alternative university media outlet of 2008, Onward State’s continuing coverage

UPDATE:

Learning the THON09 line dance - raw video from David Morar on Vimeo.

This was taken in the first hour of THON ‘09, it’s a part of the line-dance

And my pictures from THON on Flickr

penn state, state college life Childhood Cancer, Four Diamonds Foundation, penn state, PSU, THON