The Penn State Fayette THON Team was No. 1 again among Penn State's 19 Commonwealth Campuses in its money-raising effort to fight pediatric cancer. The 2008 Fayette THON Team raised $45,370.78 for the Four Diamond Fund. The team has been in that No. 1 spot nine of the past 11 years; the team placed second in 2005 and 2006. In total, Penn State Fayette THON has raised $421,435.54 over the past 11 years.

The THON dance marathon event was held at the University Park Campus February 22-24. More than 700 dancers and 15,000 student volunteers packed the Bryce Jordan Center for the event. Penn State Fayette was represented by more than 30 students and 6 dancers. All 6 Fayette dancers made it through the grueling 46-hours of dancing.

Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Emmanuel Osagie, who was on hand at the Bryce Jordan Center for THON, reports, "The enthusiasm and dedication of our Fayette students is a model for all the Penn State campuses. The Fayette THON Team worked very diligently. They were creative in their efforts, reached out to a broad range of potential contributors, and really engaged the whole campus family in their efforts."

Penn State Fayette THON Team advisor Chad A. Long says, "The THON Team makes me Penn State proud. They sacrifice countless hours for children they don't even know. For anyone worried about the next generation, they just need to take a look at what Penn State Fayette students are doing."

Overall, this year's Penn State THON reached a new milestone by raising $6,615,318.04 for children with cancer.

THON is a year-round fundraising event benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund, which is striving to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Children's Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support, and innovative research. The fundraising culminates in the no sitting, no sleeping, 46-hour dance marathon held every February called THON (short for Dance Marathon). This collective effort—involving more than 15,000 students—has become one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions.

Any family with a child being treated for pediatric cancer at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey is automatically eligible for support. The Fund has helped more than 2,000 families since 1972. Approximately 90 new families receive support each year. The Fund offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may disrupt the welfare of the child, such as car repairs, rent, or household utilities.

For more information about THON, visit www.thon.org. For photos from Penn State Fayette's group visit http://www.fe.psu.edu/Information/News/Archive/29372.htm.

Submitted by Janet L. Gibson.