This weekend, Penn Staters will travel across Pennsylvania and its neighboring states bundled up in many layers and armed with cans and signs bearing the Penn State and THON logos proclaiming the mission of THON: “Help Kids Fight Cancer.”

December 3-5 is the second of four predetermined canning weekends for THON 2011. Formally known as “canister solicitations,” canning weekends send students from an average 269 organizations to intersections, store fronts, and other popular locations in hopes of collecting donations for THON 2011 to be held February 18-20, 2011.

“Canning is not only a great way to raise money to help kids fight cancer, but also, to raise awareness about THON and The Four Diamonds Fund beyond the Penn State community,” says Jony Rommel, Public Relations Overall Chairperson for THON 2011. “Students are really looking forward to the second canning weekend as a chance to continue to build upon their fundraising efforts for THON 2011.”

In the nearly 40 years since the first THON, the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon has raised over $69 million dollars for children, families, and staff of the Four Diamonds Fund of the Hershey Medical Center. Last year, THON raised almost $8 million “for the kids.”

Will you bundle up with your organization FTK?