Thon Express

Lauren Masi

I would love to have the opportunity to run in the THON Express for many different reasons. During my involvement in THON, it became not just another event at PSU, but a huge part of my life. After attending THON my freshman year in Rec. Hall, as a pledge of my organization, I knew I had to become a part of this philanthropy. The following year, I became a moraler, had an awesome time keeping my nursing student dancers going for 48, and earned the last 4 hour pass from my morale team! The following year, I applied to be a morale captain, unfortunately I did not get it, so I ran for my organizations THON chair, won, helped organize one of the highest fundraising years, and really began to develop a strong relationship with our THON family. The next year, I had the privilege to dance all 48 hours for our THON family, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! The next year, bad news struck when our THON child relapsed and lost his battle to cancer 1 week before THON 2004.  This THON was bittersweet for our organization; I was our organizations Family Chairperson and throughout THON we held each other together and really learned the meaning of family. From that year on my involvement in THON has continued. The opportunity to run in the THON Express would be a way for me as an alumni to keep our THON child’s memory alive, celebrate every memory he gave to us, and be a part of one of the best things that happened to me at PSU……..Dance Marathon!