Penn State Law students dance for 46 hours straight raising funds for pediatric cancer research

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Two Penn State Law students were among the 700 dancers staying awake and on their feet for 46 hours straight at the annual Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). This year’s THON, held Feb. 20-22 at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State’s University Park campus, raised more than $13 million to benefit the Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

Third-year students Jeff Gdovin and Marcy McLaughlin danced the nights – and days – away from Friday evening until late Sunday afternoon, with support from several other Penn State Law students in the law school’s official THON organization.

“Dancing at THON was one of the most physically and mentally demanding challenges of my life, but also one of the most inspirational,” says McLaughlin. “Standing with a Four Diamonds family during family hour was one of the most memorable moments of my life and such a wonderful reminder of why every year we dance ‘For the Kids’ and ‘For a Cure.’”

THON is one of Penn State’s greatest traditions and the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Since 1977, the event has raised more than $127 million used to cover the treatment costs for pediatric cancer patients as well as support cancer research.

More than just a weekend-long event in February, THON includes an entire year of preparation, fundraising, and awareness building for the cause. Penn State Law’s THON organization raised funds through a variety of activities throughout the year, including several canning trips, T-shirt sales, a male beauty pageant, and THONvelopes, a partnership with Phi Delta Phi that solicits THON donations from friends, family, and other prospective donors.

One of the highlights from the year of fundraising was a Penn State Law dodgeball tournament, held on Feb. 8 in State College. Twelve teams of six students each participated in the tournament, with registration fees going toward the THON total.

Penn State Law has been home to an official THON student organization since 2005, but 2014 was the first year a team from the law school participated as dancers.

For more information on THON, visit thon.org.