Tube City Almanac

February 20, 2013

Penn State News: Local Students Dance in U's 'Thon'

Category: News || By Submitted Report


Two students from Penn State Greater Allegheny danced the night away at the university's annual THON fundraiser, raising money to fight pediatric cancer. The Greater Allegheny campus raised nearly $11,000 towards the THON total of more than $12.3 million.

"I cannot even describe the feeling I had watching the pride our dancers and the other 700 had on their faces when that total was raised," said Erin O'Malley, staff adviser for THON at Greater Allegheny. "I don't think there was a dry eye on that floor!"

Julia Qualiotto, a junior business management major, and Andrew Pricener, a sophomore business management major, represented the McKeesport campus as dancers at the university's annual dance marathon at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College. Helping to cheer on the dancers were THON Chairs Jaleel Dyson and Cassandra Studeny.

THON began in 1973, when dancers raised just over $2,000. IN 1977 THON partnered with the Four Diamonds Fund, which supports childhood cancer research. THON is now the largest student-run philanthropy effort in the nation and has raised more than $100 million.

The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is a year-long fundraising and awareness campaign. This effort engages more than 15,000 students across Pennsylvania in hopes of finding a cure.

Each year's fundraising effort culminates with a 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon known as THON Weekend in February.

This year, more than 700 dancers spent the entire weekend on their feet. In addition to the dancers, thousands of students helped raise funds throughout the year, and thousands more volunteered during THON weekend to boost dancers' morale, keep them fed and entertained, make sure they stayed safe and hydrated.

"I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and anything else I know," Studeny said. "Knowing that I am making a difference in someone's life means the world to me and I couldn't be more thankful to be a part of it."

"To be able to drop any burden, issue or struggle that I may think is affecting me just to be there for the kids and realize that every day is a struggle for them makes my problems seem so insignificant," she said.

Penn State Greater Allegheny held a number of events to raise money for THON, including a blood drive, bowling, Wii/2K tournaments, THONvelopes, donations and even a pie in the face contest.

. . .

Editor's Note: Written by Linda Curinga, manager of Marketing and Communications at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

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