Recognizing the 52nd Annual Thon

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank, and express my sincere gratitude for, an incredible group of students at Penn State University.

This group of students has spent the last year dedicating countless hours to support a fantastic cause benefiting pediatric cancer patients.

THON is a yearlong fundraising effort that culminates in an annual 46-hour dance marathon to support, financially and emotionally, more than 4,500 families with children who are battling cancer.

On February 16, Penn State students, staff, families, friends, volunteers, and spectators filled the Bryce Jordan Center for the 52nd annual THON to raise money for the Four Diamonds foundation.

THON was founded in 1973 by Penn State fraternities and sororities. What began as a small fundraiser, bringing in $2,000 in its inaugural year, flourished into a campus-wide effort with more than 16,000 student volunteers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In 1977, THON partnered with the Four Diamonds foundation. Since then, not a single Four Diamonds family has received a medical bill, thanks to the tireless work and dedication of Penn State students.

The Four Diamonds foundation was founded by Charles and Irma Millard in 1972 after their son, Christopher, lost his battle with cancer at 11 years old.

Before Christopher passed away, he wrote a story about a great knight who sought four diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength to be saved from an evil sorceress. His parents realized these four qualities were all necessary to overcome cancer. They created the Four Diamonds foundation in his memory.

Over the past 50 years, THON has grown into the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students stood from 6 p.m. on Friday, February 16, until 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 18. It was an impressive feat to behold.

What is even more incredible is the drive, fortitude, and flexibility these students showed in their commitment to this cause.

This year, Penn State students raised a record-breaking $16,955,683.63. This surpasses THON's 2023 record-breaking total by nearly $2 million. To date, students have shattered records and raised more than $200 million.

Of course, their dedication is to be applauded, but ask any Penn State student, and they will agree: THON isn't about them. It is about the children and families fighting cancer.

THON is for the kids, and it is for families to focus on celebrating more birthdays, piano recitals, science fairs, graduations, and every other milestone a child should celebrate without fear. THON exists so one day, parents don't have to hear the words: ``Your child has cancer.''

Madam Speaker, I am proud of these students, but more importantly, I am proud of the children and families who have the courage to fight back against pediatric cancer.

Once again, I congratulate everyone involved in this year's THON. We Are.

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