Penn State students always go above and beyond to show their dedication to THON. This event brings together 16,000 people for one cause, and every year we continue to show the world what we are capable of. With the 100 Days ‘Til THON celebration coming up, here are 100 reasons to remember why we THON every year:
1. So parents never have to hear the phrase, “Your child has cancer”
2. For more birthdays
3. So kids can be kids
4. Because 96 cents of every dollar will help a family
5. So parents can sleep without worrying about their child
6. So parents can focus solely on their child without a financial burden
7. So kids don’t feel alone
8. For more smiles
9. So a child’s life isn’t taken too soon
10. To save families and children from the pain that comes from cancer
11. So a family can have peace of mind
12. So a child doesn’t have to worry about issues they can’t even understand
13. So kids can continue to grow up
14. So every child can accomplish their dreams
15. So a child can still have their innocence
16. So a family doesn’t lose hope
17. For more Nittany Lions
18. To support the families that have lost a child
19. To support loved ones that have fought the battle
20. So no family has to lose a child
21. So brothers don’t have to lose sisters
22. So sisters don’t have to lose brothers
23. So a child can have every opportunity open to them
24. To spread the power of THON
25. To create a community for families to rely on
26. For those who have lost somebody close to them
27. For bright futures
28. To continue a tradition
29. To support the 700+ dancers
30. To show the world how a school can come together
31. So families see the light at the end of the tunnel
32. To spread awareness
33. To reduce the likelihood of relapses
34. To make the days easier while a child goes through treatment
35. So people can tell their stories
36. To meet people who share the same passion
37. To witness miracles
38. To make miracles happen
39. To create tomorrow’s leaders
40. To inspire others to create change
41. To fund research that saves and enhances lives
42. To create safer treatments
43. So a child doesn’t have to lose their hair
44. So kids can be kids
45. So teenagers can go to prom and graduation
46. To give strength when it doesn’t seem possible
47. To prove cancer wrong
48. To provide hope at the darkest hour
49. For a healthy future
50. To honor the memories of those we have lost
51. To provide security when everything seems unstable
52. To give a child friends they would otherwise not have met
53. To give them a reason to look forward to the third weekend of February
54. To provide fun and comfort
55. To prove that nothing is impossible
56. To defy all odds
57. For more days in a life and more life in each day
58. To learn from others
59. So a family can forget their worries for a little while
60. To break boundaries
61. To show the world what cancer cannot do
62. To show the good that students can do
63. To set new records
64. To provide 46 hours of pure joy
65. To spread love
66. To make a difference
67. To give courage to those who need it
68. To lift a weight off a family’s shoulders
69. To shorten the length and side effects of treatment
70. To remind families that we will never stop fighting for them
71. For both emotional and financial support
72. To hear families’ stories
73. To brighten the BJC for 46 hours
74. To fund critical research
75. To offer the best care possible
76. So more people can enter remission
77. So that we never forget how important our impact is
78. So that generations after us will continue to dance
79. To keep our total growing
80. To dance our hearts out
81. So that kids can have positive memories during their fight
82. To dedicate ourselves to someone else
83. To provide another home
84. To redefine the possibilities
85. To dance for something bigger than us
86. To hold our diamonds high
87. So every child has a chance
88. So that parents never see a medical bill
89. So that families don’t have to struggle even after the battle is over
90. For more laughter
91. So there’s no question about tomorrow
92. So that we can all grow together
93. So that a child never has to fight alone
94. To keep getting closer to the cure
95. So a THON child today can be a dancer tomorrow
96. To prevail even when it seems unlikely
97. So more people can say they’re cancer-free
98. So that future children do not know what “cancer” means
99. To one day dance in celebration
100. To beat cancer, once and for all
We THON in 100!