Thon Express

What is THON Express?

The THON Express is a 135-mile run that was created with the intention of bridging the gap between the families on the 7th floor at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA and the Dancers at the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (aka THON). THON is a year round fundraising event benefiting The Four Diamonds Fund, Conquering Childhood Cancer. Over the past 34 years, the students of THON have raised more than $41 million and have helped thousands of children and families fight pediatric cancer.

The THON Express will begin with a celebration for the families on Marathon Avenue, bringing some of the amazing atmosphere of THON to Hershey, and will end at the Bryce Jordan Center to help kick off THON weekend.

The run will be completed by a team of 16 runners over a 24 hour period. This team will consist of THON alumni and Four Diamond families (past and present). Just as THON dancers participate in the no-sitting, no-sleeping, two day dance marathon held every February, enduring hours of fatigue, pain and delirium, the THON Express runners will have to endure the cold, harsh, winter weather of a very cold night in February. Anyone involved in either activity understands that what they are going to endure does not compare to the harsh reality of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Everyone involved knows that they are playing a small albeit essential role in one of Penn State's greatest and most unifying traditions. And EVERYONE knows that they are doing this For the Kids, to honor them in their courageous battle against childhood cancer.