2013 RULEBOOK - Thon

Rulebook
2013 Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon
PENN STATE IFC/PANHELLENIC DANCE MARATHON:
AN INTRODUCTION
1972, 14-year old Christopher R. Millard wrote an essay that symbolized his battle with cancer. The
essay, entitled The Four Diamonds, spoke of the four qualities, courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength,
which were vital to his fight.
Shortly after losing his battle to cancer, Christopher’s parents, Charles and Irma Millard, established The
Four Diamonds Fund. The Fund exists to ease the financial burden on families whose children receive
treatment at the Penn State Children’s Hospital at the Hershey Medical Center. In addition to providing
direct assistance to families, The Fund provides money for clinical, educational, and research programs
relating to childhood cancer.
The Interfraternity Council’s (IFC) Dance Marathon began in 1973. In 1977, THON began its relationship
with The Four Diamonds Fund with the Panhellenic Council joining IFC as a co-sponsor in 1989. To date,
THON has contributed more than $89 million to help support the families and
children. Officially recognized as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world,
THON was responsible for contributing 72% of the total revenue of The Four
Diamonds Fund in the 2011 fiscal year.
What makes THON special is not the money itself, but the reason for
which those funds are raised. THON provides help to countless
families while instilling a sense of hope and confidence in all of the
children that The Fund supports. With the continued effort and
dedication of all those involved, that sense of hope continues to rise to
unprecedented levels.
Each year, more than 15,000 students contribute their time and
effort to raise money through solicitations and sponsorships.
The dedication and hard work of each student culminates in
one weekend in February: THON. More than 700 students
dance continuously for 46 hours, without sitting or sleeping, to
show their support for the families of children with cancer. Despite the obvious physical pains each
dancer endures, it is frequently described as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. In the
words of former Penn State University president, Bryce Jordan, “It is an act of pure unselfishness.”
“By now, the once clear path had disappeared…Millard struggled a
few feet higher and he knew not all was lost…shortly after, he
looked directly upon the tree of life…and the joy of the precious
fruit had freed him of the mountain’s fearful curses.”
--Christopher Millard
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