The 46 hours of THON Weekend mean many things to many people. But to 7-year-old Justin Burns, it's a chance to hang out with the big kids. I got a chance to speak with Justin and his mother Maria Sunday morning as the final hours approached. I found out his favorite THON activities, hobbies and how he spent his weekend in State College. The Burns are a Four Diamond Family from Avoca, PA and Justin is Glee Club/Oriana's (GC/O) Four Diamonds Child. Justin and his mother traveled to State College Friday for their second THON. Read on for more about their weekend at THON.
Our second submission from David Adewumi, this video features Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden experiencing his first THON.
We lent David Adewumi our Flip camera for a couple hours this weekend. Here’s his first report from the dance floor.
The sun has finally risen on the last day of THON, but that doesn't mean the day is over, but actually far from it. Yes, 40 hours may have been completed, but it's the next 6 that are crucial to the 708 dancers.
At this point, it is beyond cliched to say that THON unites all of Penn State behind a common cause--the fight towards the eradication of childhood cancer. But for some involved with THON, the charity and the event take on a greater meaning. Count dancer Eric Clair amongst those who have a personal connection with pediatric cancer. "When he was 9 months old, Eric was diagnosed with cancer," his mother, Cindy, explains.
The physical tolls of THON can be challenging--Penn State's Dance Marathon wouldn't be so special if it weren't for the rigor of staying awake and on your feet for 46 hours. But while foot massages and piggyback rides can help alleviate some of the physical stresses, it's sometimes even tougher to stave off the mental monotony of nearly 2 days on the Bryce Jordan Center floor. That's where Color Wars come in.