Impact

Penn State Lehigh Valley students danced all weekend at THON 2018

Combined students and alumni raised more than $22,000 toward overall total

Penn State Lehigh Valley’s THON dancers Emine Limani, Ethan Freiss and Kenny Chang at Bryce Jordan Center during THON weekend 2018. Credit: Pam FleckAll Rights Reserved.

THON 2018 weekend rapidly approached as Penn State Lehigh Valley Benefiting THON, the Lehigh Valley campus’ student group hosted a pep-rally-style event on Feb. 15 at the campus to wish the Lehigh Valley dancers well. More than 80 students, friends and family members gathered in room 135 to encourage and motivate Penn State Lehigh Valley’s THON dancers Kenny Chang, Ethan Freiss and Emine Limani before they departed for the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park to partake in THON 2018 weekend which ran Feb. 16-18.

The send-off was emceed by Penn State Lehigh Valley's THON Chair Devrajsinh Jadeja; and included a description of fundraising efforts and recognition of those who have contributed; along with a video message from the dancers’ families and friends wishing them luck.

Right before THON 2018 got started, the students from Penn State Lehigh Valley Benfiting THON posed before heading into the Bryce Jordan Center. Credit: Pam FleckAll Rights Reserved.

Lehigh Valley area PSU alumni raised more than $10,000 to support Penn State Lehigh Valley Benefiting THON through a variety of fundraising initiatives, and were on hand to present the checks during the event, among them: Lehigh Valley Alumni Society; Chris Bogden, Liz Glase, Lori Kapes, "Dance for a Cure" event; the Lehigh Valley campus Commission for Women; Kenny Rampolla, Lost Tavern Brewing "Hops 4 Hope" event; Rob Cepin, Hanover Township Community Center THON 5K; Terry DeGroot, Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association; Howard Kulp, Penn State Lehigh Valley Advisory Board member; and students from St. Ann’s School in Emmaus who donated materials towards the book drive at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus. PSU-LV Benefiting THON students held a book drive on campus for the St. Luke's Reading Rocks program and Kulp donated one dollar per book collected. 

“This year our students, and the many who supported them, have together raised more than $22,000 for Penn State Lehigh Valley Benefiting THON,” said Pam Fleck, assistant director of student affairs at Penn State Lehigh Valley and co-adviser of the campus THON team.

The three dancers have been part of a team of 50 Penn State Lehigh Valley students who have worked through the fall and early part of this semester in raising funds for Four Diamonds. Fundraising efforts have included a dodgeball tournament, canning, canvassing, mailing of THONvelopes, Mr. and Ms. LV event and a successful silent auction. Through their efforts, the Penn State Lehigh Valley team raised more than $22,000. In total, Penn State's THON 2018 raised more than $10 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Children's Hospital.

PSU-LV alumna Megan Marzella captured this view of Bryce Jordan Center during THON 2018 where she cheered on students from Penn State Lehigh Valley Benfiting THON. Credit: Megan MarzellaAll Rights Reserved.

The funds raised by THON are used to cover the treatment costs for pediatric cancer patients as well as supported cancer research. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $146 million for Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Last Updated February 20, 2018

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