Mar. 22, 2017
HARRISBURG –The House of Representatives today unanimously passed
House Resolution 113, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), congratulating Pennsylvania State University students for raising more than $10 million this year to help fight pediatric cancer.
“THON is about providing hope, love and support for children and their families as they face the toughest battles of their lives,” Benninghoff said. “Year after year, I continue to be amazed by the efforts of these young people, who choose to dedicate many long, hard hours to a cause greater than themselves, for people they, for the most part, don’t even know.”
THON is the commonly referred to name for The Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. It is sustained by more than 16,000 volunteers who collect money and dance for 46 consecutive hours at the Bryce Jordan Center to raise awareness of the disease. THON 2017 raised a total of $10,045,478.44.
The mission of THON is to conquer pediatric cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the children, families, researchers and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund. The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover, as well as expenses that may affect the welfare of the child, supports the medical team that cares for the children, and funds pediatric cancer research.
“We don’t always hear about the great things our young people are doing, so today I am pleased to recognize the deserving, good, kind-hearted students of Penn State,” Benninghoff said. “Hopefully, one day, in-part because of their efforts, we can pass a House resolution not only celebrating another job well done at THON, but celebrating the eradication of childhood cancer.”
Since its inception, THON has raised more than $147 million.
Representative Kerry Benninghoff
171st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Wagner
717.260.6281
mwagner@pahousegop.com
KerryBenninghoff.com /
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