THON 2021 Dancer Relations Director Nick Vicidomini appeared on TODAY with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager Thursday morning to discuss THON and his experience with the organization as a volunteer and Four Diamonds child.

His story with THON was a part of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna’s “Thankful Thursday” slot. Vicidomini was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in the summer of 2006 and has been cancer-free since October 2009.

“I can’t really even express it. It’s been so awesome just being able to give back to the organization that saved my life,” Vicidomini said.

When Nick Vicidomini was diagnosed with cancer as a child, funds raised by Penn State’s dance marathon, Thon, helped to save his life. Now, he is giving back as a member of the organization’s executive board. pic.twitter.com/sljM92cSp5

— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) May 6, 2021

Vicidomini’s parents also appeared as a part of the interview. His mom, Carla, said that initially, she and her husband, Dennis, thought it was just a regular childhood sickness. But, a few weeks later, Vicidomini was airlifted to Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey and received his cancer diagnosis a few days later.

His dad, Dennis, said that the financial help that THON and the Four Diamonds organization provide families provides much-needed relief.

“It just gives you hope. It just gives you a little sense of ‘you can almost have a regular life,'” Dennis said.

Vicidomini said he doesn’t really remember the negative parts of his cancer diagnosis but recalls a lot of the positive moments, including visiting THON each year. That experience with THON inspired him to help others, too.

“I made that promise to myself. I want to help people feel the way that I felt [that] weekend…It’s been my home since 2007, and I’m just so grateful to be able to go to this university and give back,” Vicidomini said.

The interview also featured another Four Diamonds family, the Schneiders. Their 5-year-old daughter, Grace, was diagnosed with Leukemia seven months ago and has reached remission. She’ll go into the maintenance phase of treatment beginning this summer.

“The hope that an organization like this gives families like us, like, they gave us hope for my daughter,” Angela Schneider, Grace’s mom, said.

Kotb and Hager had two surprises for Vicidomini at the end of his interview. The first an appearance from his family, the Schneiders, and Four Diamonds families and staffers. The second surprise that Kotb and Hager had for him was revealing that Subway is donating $25,000 to THON after hearing about his story.