Musician devotes life to Thon children

By ALISON BALMAT
Collegian Staff Writer

Woody Wolfe quietly began strumming his guitar singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in a hospital room at the Hershey Medical Center. Upon hearing his music, a little girl with cancer opened her eyes and her face lit up with joy as she clapped along.

"The music allowed (her) to simply be a kid," said Wolfe, a guitarist who has devoted his life to working with critically and chronically ill children at hospitals throughout the country. "As a musician, it was exciting for me the first time I saw my music could make an impact on someone."

Wolfe first became part of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon when he performed at the Thon mall promotion last year. He said he was overwhelmed by the spirit of Penn State students as they sang along with his songs and accompanied him on the drums. After the promotion, Wolfe was invited to perform at Thon.

"It was an absolute thrill to see the excitement of the college crowd," Wolfe said. "It's like, 'Wow! Here's a whole group of people who are going to make this happen.' It's absolutely incredible to see this kind of excitement."

Dan Stone, Thon's overall receptions chair, was one of the students who jumped up on stage at Thon last year, dancing, singing and playing percussion alongside Wolfe. Stone said Wolfe's songs are catchy, funny and child oriented.

"There's something magical about his songs," Stone said. "He not only sings to the children but gets to know them, what they're feeling and writes those feelings in his songs."

Although this year will only be Wolfe's second appearance at Thon, he has been actively involved in the lives of Four Diamonds Fund families for the past six years. He chooses from a wide array of songs such as the traditional "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" to one of his originals, "The Hospital Rap."

Wolfe began his career as a paramedic but after singing one song in a hospital playroom, his popularity skyrocketed. In 1992, Wolfe began traveling full time nationally and has given away 22,000 of his cassettes to children and their families.

"I'm very moved by these kids and these families that let me in," Wolfe said. "I get caught up in the fact that I know what's going to happen with the money that is raised. I get to see what happens after Thon is over."

In the midst of Thon excitement, Wolfe never forgets the small moments that make his job worthwhile, such as looking into the eyes of a little girl in an isolation room as she pressed her hands against the glass and listened to Wolfe play the guitar.

"I honestly think that I have the best job in the world," Wolfe said. "Most people have heroes in their lives they never get to meet. I get to sing to mine every day."