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Penn State's annual THON dance marathon for pediatric cancer will mark its 50th year this weekend.
The 46-hour event at the Bryce Jordan Center raises millions annually for the Four Diamonds Fund.
Altoona campus dancer and Four Diamonds survivor Sydney Bush is looking forward to this chapter in the student philanthropy's history.
"Fifty years just shows how strong the THON community is," Bush said. "It shows how there are so many good people in the world and that people are willing to give money to an organization. Every day, we're one step closer, and I think that the fact that we're doing that is amazing. ... The 50th year proves students will just keep coming together and raising money for a cause so much bigger than themselves."
Megan Dalo, a junior at University Park who's been involved with THON all three years as a student, agrees.
"The 50th anniversary is really special because with milestones like this, it really allows you to see how far you've come, the growth, and have an opportunity to reflect on the journey that has brought us here," Dalo said. "From the very first THON in the HUB ballroom -- there were so few dancers -- to now, where we're the largest student-run philanthropy in the world -- this gives us such a nice opportunity to really reflect on the growth we've made as a community, the growth we've seen in our fundraising efforts, how many families we've been able to reach and impact and help."
Bush became a Four Diamonds child shortly after she was diagnosed with ependymoma, a cancerous brain tumor, in 2005 at just 2 years old. After surgery and radiation, she was cancer-free the following year, but the tumor returned just more than a year later, forcing her to again undergo surgery.
This April, Bush will be 15 years cancer-free.
A freshman from Lancaster, Bush is one of Altoona Benefitting THON's special events captains. Her role entails coordinating events and fundraisers for the philanthropy.
"THON is honestly everything to me," Bush said. THON is my life and my biggest passion. THON is the four diamonds -- courage, honesty, wisdom and strength."
Dalo, who serves as a public relations captain for THON, became involved as a freshman, determined to make a difference.
"I knew when I came to campus, it was something I really wanted to get involved in because I had heard so many amazing things about the community and the cause and the families we support; it really resonated with me," Dalo said. "Being able to spread the mission of THON year-round and share the stories of the families and different volunteers we support means everything to me and has just connected me even more with the mission as a volunteer."
Dalo said the Penn State community is excited for the philanthropy's half-century mark.
"We are so ecstatic to be starting THON weekend today, a weekend filled with so much love and magic and excitement that really means the world to so many people that are involved," Dalo said. "Whatever we can do to make a difference in the lives of families we support is just such a great cause to get behind."
Dalo said that while 50 years is certainly something to celebrate, THON won't take its eye off the ball.
"The fight does not stop here at 50 years," Dalo said. "We are treading on 50 more years or however many more years it takes until no family has to hear that their child has cancer, because, at the end of the day, that is the fight we're fighting."
Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.