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The annual Road to THON Celebration dinner, initiated in 1979, was held Thursday night (Jan. 24) at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Attendees included THON committee captains, chairs, donors, supporters and invited speakers.
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Senior Associate Director Student Activities Barry Bram introduces -- and roasts -- the 2013 THON overall committee chairs, an annual tradition at the Road to THON Celebration.
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Will Martin, 2013 THON overall chair, offers remarks at the Road to THON Celebration, held Jan. 24 at The Penn Stater.
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Keynote speaker Brad Heidrich shared his story as a Four Diamonds cancer survivor, from his diagnosis at age 13 to pursuing mutliple Penn State degrees and his current work as a cancer researcher with Johnson and Johnson.
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Diagnosed 29 years ago on Jan. 24 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 4, Sabrina Parraga says she doesn't remember much about her first bout with cancer, but her first childhood memory was a painful one -- receiving her first spinal tap and bone marrow extraction.
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Family speakers Sabrina Parraga and her mother, Sherri Carruthers, told Sabrina's story as a two-time Four Diamonds child, from her first diagnosis at age 4 on Jan. 24, 1984, to her second diagnosis in 1989, and the significance of THON during Sabrina's treatments and recovery.
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While in fourth grade, Sabrina Parraga's leukemia relapsed. Her mother, Sherri Carruthers, joked that Sabrina was her "million-dollar daughter," based on all the accrued medical costs. Fortunately, she said, what her medical insurance didn't cover, the Four Diamonds -- with THON's help -- did, along with a home tutor. Sabrina missed more school that year than she attended.
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Echoing THON 2013's theme, 'Inspiring Tomorrow's Miracles,' Sabrina Parraga and Sherri Carruthers concluded their remarks with their family's three miracles -- Sabrina's health, after being told in 1984 that she had a 30 to 40 percent five-year survival rate -- and the birth of her two children, when Sabrina previously thought she wouldn't be able to become a mother.
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Sabrina Parraga shared her favorite family photo, taken during THON's Snapshots of Strength event. THON volunteers -- Penn State students -- arrange the photo sessions during THON Weekend and give the rights-free digital images to each Four Diamonds family.
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The family speakers concluded their speech by bringing Sabrina Parraga's family onstage, where her children, Isabella and Octavio, led Road to THON Celebration attendees in a rousing cheer of "FTK! For the Kids!" They eagerly await attending THON together every year. This is Sabrina Parraga and Sherri Carruthers' 28th year as part of the THON and Four Diamonds family. More than 2,000 families have been assisted by both organizations.
