World's Largest Student-Run Charity Helps Kids With Cancer

It’s winter in State College, Pa. For thousands of Penn State students, alumni everywhere and hundreds of families of pediatric cancer patients, that means one thing. THON—what’s short for a very long dance marathon—will soon begin. This year’s event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 through 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19.

THON is festive, but dead-serious in its mission, and phenomenal. In the last academic year, THON raised $10 million for Four Diamonds, a pediatric cancer charity affiliated with Penn State University and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The world’s largest student-run philanthropic organization involves almost every fraternity, sorority, club and sports team on campus.