Penn State's THON Dancing Marathon raises millions to fight pediatric cancer!

Penn State students hit the dance floor on Friday night for 46 hours of breakin' it down to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer.

The oldest and longest dance marathon in the county, the university’s THON event has collected more than $89 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital since 1977, according to the organization’s website. The charity helps families battling pediatric cancers pay for the the care and treatment that insurance doesn’t cover.

Last year, more than 700 dancers showed off their moves at the charity event and raised $10.7. million, according to the Centre Daily Times. It was the first year that THON was held without legendary coach Joe Paterno in attendance and his son, Jay, shared some words of inspiration at the event.

“When the storm clouds gathered around this campus in November, a lot of people ran for the hills. Not the students, who were leaders of Thon. You stood your ground,”Jay Paterno said at the event, according to the Centre Daily Times. “Thon represents the very best of Penn State students, he added, “their compassion and their character.”

Penn State men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers got Penn State’s annual THON dance marathon for pediatric cancer off to a rocking start Friday night when he presented a check for $14,200 from his family to the charity.

Chambers, a Philadelphia University graduate who is in his second season as head coach of the Nittany lions, had pledged to donate $10 for every student who attended Thursday night’s game against Iowa at the Bryce Jordan Center. A total of 1,420 students showed up for the game, which the Lions lost 74-72.

“My wife Courtney and I talked at length about it and we wanted to make a powerful statement,” Chambers said. “THON has just blown me away. It’s a phenomenal event. We are very fortunate to have three young children and they are all healthy so I’m very lucky. This is where it started for us.”

Chambers handed over his check before the 6 p.m. Friday start of the 46-hour dance marathon to raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. A total of more than $10.6 million was raised last year.

More than 700 dancers and thousands of student volunteers are involved in the effort at the Jordan Center.

Chambers also shaved his head in support of the “No Hair, Don’t Care” fund-raising effort for THON.