Penn State's Dance Marathon (THON) broke all records again this year, raising $7,490,133.87 for the Four Diamonds Fund, a program aimed at conquering childhood cancer. Penn State Altoona contributed $70,104.05 to the total, the most the college has ever raised. A core group of about 16 students at Penn State Altoona who hold chair positions helped lead the record-breaking effort through canning, a letter-writing campaign and a dodgeball tournament, among other fundraisers.
Throughout the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping event, dancers were supported by friends, family and other THON volunteers, as well as by the entertainment and the crowds in the stands. Many of the Four Diamonds families who benefit from the money raised at THON also were in attendance.
This year's THON put the total amount of money raised since its inception to more than $59 million for the Four Diamonds Fund.