Someday

Thon provides hope that one day cancer will not be an obstacle

Somewhere, in the sterile, florescent lighting of a hospital room, a child with cancer cried as a nurse stuck an IV into her arm to start her chemotherapy treatment.

Somewhere, in a haze of baby powder, a dancer cried as he looked at his swollen feet and realized he had 24 more hours to go.

"Someday, they won't have to cry anymore. Someday, there will be a cure for cancer."

Somewhere, in a cramped HUB office, a dance marathon committee member cried when she was frustrated with trying to keep up with classwork and work on organizing the marathon.

Someday, they won't have to cry anymore. Someday, there will be a cure for cancer.

Participants in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon work toward that goal every year by raising funds. And each year they help families cover medical expenses and help the medical community come closer to finding a cure.

The marathon has gotten better and better every year. The marathon raised $2,001,831.51 this year, topping last year's $1,528,425.

But it didn't come easy.

Students stood on the streets enduring the bitter cold as they collected spare change from people passing by. They went to their friends and neighbors asking them to support the marathon. Committee members worked for months organizing every last detail of the event.

And then there were the dancers. They roamed around the White Building dragging their aching feet. They looked deep inside themselves for that single burst of energy that would get them through the line dance. They lived from one foot massage to the next. They waited for visits from family and friends, and they pushed themselves up against the fence when they saw a familiar face.

They went the distance.

Family and friends gathered to visit the dancers, to bring them toys, snacks and good wishes. They pledged money, they gave their support. They were part of a 26-year legacy at Penn State. They were caught up in the spirit.

The Four Diamonds children behind that spirit were in the White Building, too. They played video games and sang songs on stage. They ran around the dance floor and talked to the dancers. The dance marathon was their escape from their disease and the event that gave them hope for a cure. Their family members were there as well, seeing their children playing happily and escaping from their own worries for the weekend.

Dance marathon is one of the things that shows us that this world is not all bad. It gives us hope. It gives us a sense of togetherness.

Someday, through its important contribution, it will give us all one less thing to cry about.