THON 2017 Kicks Off at the Bryce Jordan Center

By

Geoff Rushton

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February 17, 2017 – 9:30 pm

The 46 hours of THON got under way at the Bryce Jordan Center Friday night, with more than 700 dancers joined by thousands more student volunteers, Four Diamonds Fund families and supporters who were rapidly filling in the seats throughout the arena.

As the clock neared 6 p.m., THON’s executive committee members made the countdown from the stage and the dancers got on their feet. They won’t sit down again until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The annual event, a culmination of year-round fundraising by Penn State students, is celebrating its 40th year of being partnered with the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. THON is the major driver Four Diamonds ability to provide financial support for pediatric cancer patients and their families, as well as supporting specialized practitioners devoted to pediatric cancer patients and cancer research.