15,000 Standing Tall, For Our Heroes Big and Small

I am still having trouble finding words for this past weekend. One of my favorite quotes about THON is, “From the outside looking in you can’t understand it, from the inside looking out you can’t explain it,” It is so hard to put into words exactly what THON weekend is. To try to explain it simply; it is the culmination of months of hard word ending with a 46 hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon but it is much more than that. No matter how much money we raise THON has something special because of the relationships that we have with the Four Diamonds Families. No matter what we do, the families are always at the heart of it. THON Weekend gives the kids and their families a chance to forget about what they are going through and just have fun. These kids look forward to this like they look

15,000 people pack the BJC to join together in the fight against pediatric cancer!

forward to Christmas or their Birthday. They count down the days and talk about it all year because to them this weekend can’t compare to anything in the world and Penn State students feel the same way. I know that from 3 years in THON I have learned more about myself, working with others and what it really means to give back than I could have anywhere else.  Because of THON, The Four Diamonds Fund and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, there have been huge strides in cancer research so that someday Penn State will play an instrumental part in finding a cure for cancer.

It is so hard to put into words what everyone was feeling when that total went up. Everyone was definitely nervous if we could break the 9.5 million from last year. We were out a canning weekend due to weather and it was definitely a tough year for Penn State so we really didn’t know what to expect. We had high hopes but we were definitely prepared to not see a huge increase. I was on the floor when the final total went up and it was definitely a feeling unlike any other. To hear that we broke 10 million was absolutely astounding and to raise over a million more than last year after everything that has happened this year, I think made everyone extremely proud to be a Penn Stater! There were tears and hugs but for the most part I think everyone was just speechless. No other University in the world can say that they have done something this amazing and I know every single person in the BJC couldn’t be happier to be part of such an unbelievable moment.

I could not be more proud of the year that Abington THON has had. At one point during Family Hour last weekend I remember looking up into the stands and looking at all the Abington THONers and couldn’t help but smile through my tears because I could see the family that THON has formed. It was during Family Hour that I think everyone had the realization as to why we work so hard. Abington did an absolutely amazing this year! They raised an astonishing $41,695.96 and jumped from 8th place among the commonwealth campuses to 4th! I’m so proud and honored to have had the opportunity to be the chair of this organization! It was a year that I will remember for the rest of my life and I can’t thank everyone who took part in it enough!

Forever & Always, FTK,
-Jill

Abington THON’s Totals Over the Years:

2004- $6269.99
2005- $8536.53
2006- $14,465.14
2007- $11,238.17
2008- $16,271.09
2009- $24,308.13
2010- $21,738.68
2011- $22,737.28
2012- $41, 695.96

Abington THON has raised $167,260.97 for THON since 2004!

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Experiences of a lifetime

Being someone that has now danced twice for Abington THON, people seemed really interested in how the two weekends compared. Some questions I heard were, “How does dancing this time around compare to the first time?” “Is it easier the second time?” I think that every time I had a variation of the same answer.

Dancing for THON is the experience of a lifetime and I am lucky enough to say that I was able to do it twice. I love THON so much and knowing that it goes recognized and people understand how much I am in it for the kids really makes me happy.

Me and Cat on stage during THON weekend.

The answer that I gave when asked how the two weekends compare and if it was easier went a little something like this…

They were two totally different experiences.  To compare them and pick a better one would be unfair and honestly not even possible.  To start with, most of the people I spent my time with were different.  In 2010, a lot of the Abington moralers had experienced THON before, and had been around for quite some time.  The Abington moralers this year were mostly new people; majority of them never even went to THON before. It was awesome watching them during parts of the weekend and really watching it click for them why we were there and what all of our hard work went towards during the year. The last time I danced, Abington had four dancers, so I had three dancer partners and that also meant we had four total moralers supplied from University Park. This year, we only had two of each and that was definitely a difference. Another huge difference was that this time around, not only did we get to represent the Chapman family, but also the Furisters & Getz’s.

Me getting an ice bath during THON 2010.

As for if it was easier, I’m not really sure.  Certain parts were definitely hard both weekends.  This time around I definitely cried less. The pain that I felt was awful but I also think that I dealt with it a lot better this past weekend rather than in 2010.  I think I owe a lot of that to the energy produced in the stands, and whoever was on the floor with me. I went this whole weekend without any ice bath or getting my feet wrapped and those are both things that I did in 2010. My moraler encouraged me to go as long as I possibly could without it and I think that really helped me out in the end.

Both weekends will forever hold a special place in my heart and when people ask me what my favorite part of college was, they will easily share the number one spot.

We are….FTK

To say that this weekend has been emotional is an understatement. This weekend has been one of the best that, I believe, Penn State has seen in a very long time. With record breaking numbers of people attending this year’s THON, it’s a wonder that the BJC wasn’t on lockdown earlier. With crazy costumes, water guns, and kids running around having a blast, THON has proven yet again that “this is what they mean when we say We are Penn State.”

And so before I tell you the grand total from all of the hard work that THON’ers have put in I just want quickly say that Catarina, and Rebecca did a phenomenal representing Abington THON. They were total troopers through out the whole 46 hours, and stayed strong and positive. I am so proud to know these two women as closely as I do and I was really proud to see our students, past and present, showing wonderful support and love to Cat and Becca.

So….the moment you have all been waiting for…..the final total of THON 2012 is…..drumroll please……

We have raised a record breaking $10,686,924.83!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also Penn State Abington came in 4th place among the 19 other common wealth campus’s with our grand total of $41,695.96!!!!! Congrats to all of the dancers, captains, and families for making this year’s THON better than ever!

WE ARE…..FTK!

It’s the Final Countdown

Here it is everyone…a countdown clock to the end of THON

THON Countdown Clock

 

THON-Mail Call

Well there is only 13 hours left at THON and our dancers are doing their best to hang in there. The thing that really helps keep the dancers up on their game is mail call- a time where anyone who has written a letter, or made a care package for the dancers can give it to them. Some dancers are brought to tears, others jump for joy at seeing hand made cards and letters from their friend and family.

 

Keep it here to Abington’s blog to get your full update on THON and our dancers.