100 Things I Love About THON

With 100 days until the greatest weekend of the year (THON), I couldn’t choose just one reason why I am forever grateful for this amazing cause that has brought so many Penn State students together. It seemed fitting to list 100 reasons why I love The Penn State Dance Marathon. 

1. First and Farimost: The kids

2. The atmosphere when you walk in

3. Everyone coming together for one amazing cause

4. The sense of community

5. The energy

6. The Line Dance

7. The Final Four Hours

8. Seeing the kids faces light up when you play with them

9. Canning

10. The philanthropic aspect

11. Having the kids squirt you with water guns

12. Seeing thousands of kids, on their feet, dancing in the stands

13. The unity

14. The excitement

15. The fact that it provides hope for families

16. The alumni who never fail to donate for a cause they always support

17. The Family Carnival

18. The THON fashion show

19. The Four Diamonds Fund

20. The kids talent show

21. The committees coming together

22. The families

23. Family Hour

24. The THON 5k

25. The linking of arms during the final four hours

26. The stories

27. The memories made while there

28. The recap videos

29. The history behind it all

30. The collaboration between organizations

31. The support from the community

32. The efforts put in by the captains and committee members

33. Go Go Gadget after Family Hour

34. The human tunnel

35. The feeling students get to feel like kids again

36. Theme reveal

37. Athlete Hour

38. The professors who realize that THON is more important than class

39. The hugs

40. Getting and making dancer mail

41. Seeing the kids eyes light up when they receive a piece of kids mail

42. Watching the kids run around in their kids mail shirts that are way too big for them

43. Watching the athletes throw the kids on their shoulders so that they see THON from a different perspective

44. The families that come back year after year

45. The dedication of the organizations to their THON families

46. The laughs

47. The smiles

48. The PB&J from Hos

49. Seeing the THON children spend the weekend being kids, and forgetting, even just for a little while that they have cancer

50. How it gives us a different perspective on life

51. The little sleep we get- but us embracing every moment

52. Seeing how each committee has a different but important role in THON

53. The total countdown

54. Color Wars

55. R&R keeping THON safe for all of us

56. HOS allowing us to keep our dancers well and hydrated

57. OPP ensuring clean floors and healthy conditions

58. Special Events making sure that we have fun games for the dancers

59. Dancer Relations giving life to the dancers when they really can’t stand anymore

60. Finance keeping track of all of the funds for the Four Diamonds Fund

61. DAR engaging the alumni and encouraging them to continue to support a cause they love

62. PR because without them, we couldn’t capture the magic that is THON

63. ENT to keep us moving when we’re tired

64. Communications to help educate us and everyone around us

65. FAMILY RELATIONS- FOR THE FAMILIES, the most important reason why we’re here

66. Merch so that we can rep THON at all times

67. SL because without them, no balloon arches would be complete and the supplies would be lost without them

68. That it’s the most acceptable time to wear a tutu for extended periods of time

69. Piggy Back rides for the dancers to get them off their feet

70. Throwing up your diamonds with the Nittany Lion

71. That it’s the most acceptable time to wear a fanny pack

72. The high socks

73. That this is the most fun all nighter you’ll ever pull

74. Coach Franklin walking out on stage

75. Charles Mellard speaking

76. Hearing the family speaker

77. Remembering all of the lives that were lost

78. Seeing the kids laugh up on stage

79. The grilled cheese from the concession stands

80. The fact that we get to use meal points for food in the BJC

81. The lifelong friends that you’ll make by being part of a committee

82. Dancing (very poorly) in the stands like no-one is watching

83. Learning the Line Dance for the first time

84. The bubble wands

85. The beach balls getting thrown around the BJC

86. The magic

87. The four diamonds that are shaved into the kids/dancers heads

88. The creative slogans on the back of the THON dancer shirts

89. Watching the hair donation

90. The WE ARE chants throughout the whole BJC

91. The slides of strength

92. Austin Sommer’s amazing hair

93. The football team’s dance during the Pep Rally

94. Happy Quarters

95. Awkward Ice Breakers that lead to amazing friendships come THON weekend

96. The delusion come Sunday afternoon

97. Sunshines

98. The THON Raffle

99. Never Stopping Fighting

100. For the cure.

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