STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It was a big weekend at Penn State University as hundreds of students took part in this year's THON. The 46-hour dance marathon raises money for pediatric cancer research and families fighting childhood cancer.
"Just knowing how much of a difference we're making, and it just goes such a long way that these families don't have to worry about bills and everything else is taken care of," Tori Smith said.
Smith is a graduate student at Penn State and is from Northumberland. She got her hair cut on stage at THON for a program that makes wigs for children.
"It was the best weekend of my life for sure," Smith said.
THON is billed as the world's largest student-run philanthropy. Students fundraise year-round, and this year the event raised a record amount of money.
The final total was nearly $17 million.
"It's so cool to see all the hard work finally pay off, and when those numbers go up at the end, it's such an amazing feeling," Abigail Borgacci said.
Borgacci is a senior at Penn State and participated in her third THON. This is her sister Ella's second THON. Both girls are from Archbald.
"You definitely go a little crazy. You get really silly. There's definitely hard moments. You hit a wall, but it's fun. There's always stuff going on, and you're always with people," Ella Borgacci said.
"It literally goes by in a second. It feels crazy to think about how long we were up all weekend and when we got there and how much we did, but it really doesn't even feel that long now looking back on it," Abigail said.
"So many emotions. It's hard to even explain," Aidan Alco said.
Aidan Alco is a junior at Penn State and is from Blakley. His favorite part of THON is seeing all of the families.
"That's what gets me through the weekend. That's what gets everyone through the weekend. Just being around the families is an unreal feeling," Alco said.
In 52 years, THON has raised more than $219 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Health Children's Hospital.