If you were downtown today, you saw a dozen or so outgoing, active young people collecting money at various street corners to fight pediatric cancer. Their signs and cans noted a Penn State connection.
Alert “06880” reader David Conneely wanted to know more. He interviewed one woman, and learned that this weekend’s efforts are part of a much larger initiative.
Last year, Penn State raised $13 million.
Hopefully, Westporters give generously to the cause.
Thanks for this post. It’s a great cause.
⛳ Sent from my iPhone 🍺
⛳ Sent from my iPhone 🍺
Thanks so much for opening your hearts and wallets to these generous students. The Four Diamonds Fund and “THON,” as it is affectionately called, has raised over $114 million for children fighting cancer since it started in 1977. As you might guess, it is the largest student run philanthropy in the world and, bringing it closer to home, HuskyThon at UConn was modeled after Penn State’s THON – http://www.THON.org. In college, I too went on canning trips and also participated in the organizing committees – to get a spot as a dancer was amazingly competitive! THON is so important to students and student organizations, there are almost no parties at Penn State that weekend – everyone is lined up outside the arena waiting to get in to support the dancers and more importantly, the littlest cancer patients and their families – there are actually tickets to get in!!! While in the early years the Greek system did most of the fundraising, today there are campus groups dedicated specifically to THON fundraising and supporting kids actively undergoing treatment. There are a number of very moving videos on YouTube. If you’re interested in learning more, please check them out. FTK! For the kids!!!