The Penn State University Dance Marathon, a student-run benefit that raises money for children with cancer, collected $3.6 million this weekend, organizers said.
The event, known to many as the “Thon”, is billed as the world’s largest student-run philanthropy and raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund.
This year’s marathon ran Friday through Sunday and raised $3,600,793, according to marathon spokeswoman Sara Ridge, a Penn State student.
The first Thon, held in 1973, had just 78 dancers from Penn State’s main campus and raised only $2,000. But the numbers of dancers and the amount of money raised have increased dramatically over the years; this year’s event was expected to attract 700 dancers.
More than 25,000 spectators attend the event each year, many dancing along.
Since Thon and Four Diamonds came together in 1977, Penn State students have raised more than $20 million for Four Diamonds, organizers said.
This year’s event marked the fourth consecutive year the event topped $3 million in money raised.
————
On the Net:
Dance Marathon: http://www.thon.org/
