In just 100 days, the entire Penn State community will show the world what childhood cancer cannot do, through Penn State’s Dance Marathon, better known as THON.
THON captains, committee members and passionate volunteers flooded the HUB on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in order to get students excited about THON weekend, and to celebrate the fundraising efforts of organizations so far this year through the annual 100 Days ‘Til THON event.
The theme for this year was “Share Your Story,” which gave the opportunity for volunteers to share why they THON with the Penn State community and on social media. A photo booth was set up in the noontime lounge of the HUB for picture opportunities, to further spread THON’s mission online. The event was also live-streamed on social media, which allowed for anyone across the globe to learn more about why we THON.
For THON chairs and captains alike, 100 Days is an important event to encourage volunteers to increase their fundraising efforts and goals, especially as the giving spirit of the holiday season is soon to take over.
“100 Days gets people excited about the fundraising season. Typically people wait to donate until the holidays or even the weeks leading up until THON weekend, but during 100 Days, people are excited even before that” says Mandy Hicks, a senior biology major and the primary THON chair for Volé, a dance organization.
Among the events at this year’s celebration were THON’s best dance crew, hair donation and the human picture, where students come together to spell out a word in a photograph. This year’s word was “LIGHT,” inspiring others to believe that THON can provide light to so many Four Diamonds families.
100 Days is one of the many events put on by the Special Events captain committee each year, in order to inspire student volunteers leading up to THON. 100 Days ‘Til THON is one of the many events that prove how much of a year-long endeavor THON is, and how Penn State students never stop fighting until we reach a cure.
THON weekend this year will take place during Feb. 21-23 in the Bryce Jordan Center, and it’s safe to say that fundraising season is now in full swing. Countless orgs can be found around State College having bake sales, food fundraisers and gearing up for canvassing trips over university-administered breaks.
Raising millions of dollars for pediatric cancer certainly cannot be done overnight, and events such as 100 Days allow THON volunteers to celebrate all of their success so far, and look forward to what is to come in their endeavors.
Looking ahead, the next big THON events are Family Carnival on December 8, followed by THON Men’s Basketball, better known as THON Hoops in January.
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