'For The Kids' | 46 Hours at THON with Penn State GOP
By: Jed Jallorina
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Happy Valley roared to life on Friday night as thousands of Penn Staters flocked to the opening night of the 54th Annual Dance Marathon, or THON for short.
THON, which began in 1973 as a way to raise money for children battling cancer, is now the single largest student-led philanthropy in the world. Student organizations that participate in fundraising for THON may elect up to several dancers to represent them on the floor. For weeks, these dancers prepare themselves for 46 consecutive hours in the Bryce Jordan Center, where their goal is to remain standing for the entire duration of the weekend.
It is an event that gives hope, awareness, and financial assistance to countless children suffering from cancer. But to one student organization, the cause carries a particular meaning.
The Penn State College Republicans, which is the only political organization on campus to raise money for THON, nominated two seniors, Collin Jones and Ben Fry, to represent them on the floor. In addition to having two dancers, the College Republicans raised over $14,000 in donations through their members’ THON drives, breaking last year’s total and becoming the second-highest total in their organization’s history.
“I dance for all those we’ve lost in the fight for a cure,” said Jones in a statement, shortly after being nominated as one of the College Republicans’ dancers. “THON is a way to remember them, keep their memories and spirits alive, and keep us focused on fighting for those still fighting the good fight.”
Fry, the second nominee for the College Republicans, had also been looking forward to the weekend all year.
“It’s something I never even imagined I would have the ability to do,” he said. “Being chosen to represent CR’s in THON means so much to me. It’s all FTK (For The Kids).”
Day One was marked by visits from dozens of members of the College Republicans, including President Tristin Kilgore, Vice President Hunter Steach, and other members wishing to show their support for the dancers.
“I think the second day is probably the hardest for them,” said Kilgore as he prepared to step onto the floor. “At that point, they’ve been standing for over twenty-four hours. It’s definitely a mentally taxing ordeal, maybe even more so than physical.”
Members of CRs were eager to meet the organization’s THON Family, who were present for opening night and the pep rally, and were amazed by the scale of the event.
By Hour 24, the two seniors were fighting off sleep while also grappling with the physical toll of standing nonstop. Fortunately, countless students designated as Dancer Relations volunteers were ready to assist with any of the dancers’ medical, logistical, and hospitality needs. Although battling exhaustion, Jones and Fry were “very grateful” for the on-site athletic trainers and volunteers.
“THON is definitely something everybody looks forward to,” said Steach, as the first day waned to a close. “But more than that, it represents something very close to home for a lot of families and their children. It’s easy to lose sight of it, and it’s important that we’re cognizant of what this all really means to the kids.”
Before long, the final four hours of THON arrived. Family Hour is reportedly the most difficult; not only because of the physical toll the dancers had endured by this point, but also because of what that hour really meant to students and families alike.
During this hour, the music wanes, and the entire Bryce Jordan Center stills, and what follows is several personal accounts from THON families, a musical performance, and a video memorial dedicated to all those who have succumbed to cancer. Many students describe it as an incredibly difficult, but important, part of the event.
“When our guys are ready to drop from exhaustion, after nearly two days, Family Hour reminds them of who they’re dancing for in the first place,” said Kilgore.
And just like that, it was over. Jones and Fry, alongside over 700 other student dancers, had now been standing for 46 consecutive hours, battling sleep, exhaustion, and the limitations of their own minds and bodies. THON 2026 had come to an end, raising a grand total of $18,841,726.53 for Four Diamonds towards cancer treatments, physical therapy, and research into a cure for cancer.
Many of the College Republicans had remained in the stands nearly the entire weekend, cheering on their dancers.
“It’s a big campus, so people do not always agree on everything,” Kilgore said. “However, when it comes to THON, I’m glad we can all come together and do it For The Kids.”