Penn State’s annual THON Weekend will take place in just a few short weeks. It’s always a fun-filled and oddly sobering weekend, and no one knows this better than senior Sabrina Zanolini, who’s attended THON’s most recent 20 celebrations.

Zanolini’s family was first paired with the Four Diamonds Foundation in 2000 after her sister was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The Zanolini family attended its first THON in 2001. Sadly, this was the only THON Zanolini was able to experience with her sister, who died later that year.

Since 2001, Zanolini has attended the event every year, making this one No. 21.

“THON has always been a really important part of my life,” Zanolini said. “At THON, I never felt awkward or out of place like I did a lot of other times. It was a place where I could be a kid and it was a place where I always felt the closest with my sister, too. THON was always my happy place – my go-to place. It’s the best weekend of the year.”

Zanolini said that THON was the sole reason she made the decision to come to Penn State for her undergraduate degree. She’s been heavily involved with the event since her first year as a student.

As a freshman, Zanolini was a member of the Special Events committee and worked with Rules & Regulations the year after. As a junior, Zanolini served as a fundraising chair for Society of Women Engineers and wound up representing her organization as a dancer.

Having the opportunity to participate as a dancer last year was especially significant to Zanolini because it was her 20th THON. While the experience as a whole was incredibly meaningful, Zanolini believes the line dance is the highlight.

“There are videos of me and my sister doing the line dance together at our first THON,” Zanolini said. “That’s always an important part and a really cherished part of THON for me.”

Something that Zanolini has enjoyed the most throughout her participation with THON is the ability to experience the event from the perspective of both a student and a family member.

“I loved being able to participate in THON on both sides,” Zanolini explained. “It has allowed me to give back what my family has received, and that’s something that has been unique to my experience.”

Seeing as this will be Zanolini’s final THON as a student, she is understandably upset that it will not look the same as it traditionally does. Although the situation is not ideal, Zanolini remains optimistic that this year’s event will be unique at the very least, and she is proud to be a part of it.

Zanolini plans on attending graduate school at Penn State, although graduate students are unable to participate in THON the same way undergrads can. However, that’s not stopping her from staying involved.

Zanolini hopes to stay connected with the event as an alum. She said she plans to continue attending THON as a family member long after her time as a student.

“It’s always been said by the oncologists that the type of tumor my sister had will be one of the last cancers to be cured,” Zanolini shared. “I want to keep going to THON until it’s cured.”