Before THON 2021’s official start, a few directors and Four Diamonds members met with the media via Zoom for a pre-THON press conference.

Executive Director of Four Diamonds, Suzanne Graney, and Four Diamonds co-founder, Charles Millard, answered questions alongside Katie Solomon (THON 2021 Executive Director) and Samantha Koon (THON 2021 Public Relations Director).

It’s been a long journey to get to THON 2021, with a global pandemic forcing the 46-hour dance marathon to a virtual format. Despite the pandemic standing in the way, Koon described the feeling knowing they’ve made it to THON 2021.

“This is just an incredible feeling knowing that regardless of the fact that there might be a pandemic and everything else that is happening in the world right now, we are still managing to support families, spread awareness of what we’re doing, and then also just raise funds for these families and as well as research,” Koon said.

Koon continued, saying that despite the virtual format, they are still “bringing this magic as far as they can.” There have of course been some difficulties along the way, but she said it’s an “incredible feeling” knowing they’ve made it here.

While COVID-19 devastated and continues to devastate people across the world, cancer is also still impacting so many lives. Graney is grateful that Four Diamonds and THON have been able to still make a difference in these unprecedented times.

“Very quickly we realized cancer doesn’t stop just because COVID has arrived,” Graney said. “We have been so grateful to THON that they recognize that too. And when they chose their theme this year, Rise and Unify, we talked about the obstacles that can happen at any time…I have watched this team of students really find creative ways to make it past obstacles, and they have been extraordinarily resilient, really determined, to make something great happen.”

Graney said she’s “excited” to see what will unfold for everyone this THON Weekend. Going off what Koon said, Graney mentioned that the students still have “magic” that will be created this weekend.

In the past, there would be planned in-person events throughout the year for THON families to attend. While that wasn’t able to happen this year, Solomon explained they have set up virtual events over Zoom.

For one event during the fall, they shipped boxes to the participating families’ houses filled with pumpkins, paint, crafts, and other activities to recreate their “Harvest Day” over Zoom.

“I think all-in-all, I think we’ve been able to stay connected to our families and it’s been really special to, even if it’s just a Facebook post, still see what they have going on,” Solomon said.

With the virtual format, dancers haven’t had the opportunity to make in-person connections with the people who will be dancing alongside them. However, throughout the lead-up to THON, dancers have always been able to communicate, whether it be through phone, text, or “contactless drop-off options” to make sure dancers can still interact with each other.

“The most beautiful thing about THON to me sometimes is its ability to bring people together who would have never met otherwise,” Solomon said. “We wanted to do everything that we could to ensure those moments and opportunities to make life-long new best friends, or catch up with the old ones, still existed.”

Millard, who has been there from the start, has seen a lot during his involvement with THON, but nothing like this.

“This is all new to me,” Millard said. “This is my 44th THON. I have been to 44 of them, and I’ve seen everything, but this is all new to me. I don’t know where you are, but I have great faith in [the THON committee].”