County natives taking part in THON
Keegan Walters, a 2011 Butler High School graduate, is one of the Butler County natives that will take part in the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon starting Feb. 19.
Known as THON for short, the no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon runs for 46 hours.
“There's the event itself, once a year at the end of February. Seven hundred and eight students are selected to do the marathon on the floor of the basketball arena,” said Walters, a fifth-year secondary education major.
THON has been running since 1973 and raised $13.34 million last year, money that goes to the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to combat pediatric cancer.
“Patients don't pay a cent for treatment,” said Walters, the son of Dennis and Jennifer Walters of Center Township.
Walters is the executive chair of Atlas, one of the student organizations that have sprung up to benefit the marathon.
“My organization exists to fundraise and put on events,” said Walters. “The name was given from the floor of the dorm where the founding students lived.”
This is in keeping with the marathon's status as a student-run philanthropy believed to be the largest in the world.
Two other Butler County natives, Misha Demchuk and Ryan Cwik, are members of Boulevard, another community service organization that participates in the fundraising.
Demchuk, the daughter of Jim and Tammy Demchuk, is a 2013 graduate of Seneca Valley High School and a junior biochemistry major at Penn State.
She will be one of the marathon dancers this year.
“I stopped drinking caffeine, you don't want to be dependent on that. I've been stretching every morning to strengthen my back, and I stand through all my labs,” Demchuk said of her preparations for the marathon.
Cwik, the son of Jim and Susan Cwik and a fellow 2013 Seneca Valley High graduate, said he is also hitting the dance floor this year.
“It's my first turn in the barrel. I'm a little nervous,” said the junior chemical engineering major. “I've prepared the same as Misha. I don't drink coffee and I've cut out alcohol as well.
“You don't have to physically dance the whole time but you have to be standing the whole time,” said Cwik.
Dancers will be cheered on by fellow organization members.“Atlas members will be there when the marathon starts at 6 p.m. Feb. 19,” Walters said. “We provide moral support and keep a lot of members in the stands.”Also in attendance will be cancer patients and their families, said Graceann Domino, a THON spokesman.“THON is like a party for the 4 Diamond families. It allows them to get away from the hospital for the weekend,” said Domino. A hospitality suite is set up in the arena for them.Last year, THON was able to donate 96 percent of the funds raised directly to Four Diamonds.Walters said, “We fundraise from September to Feb. 20.” In addition to the marathon itself, Walters said Atlas raises money by sending out solicitation letters, collecting money at street corners and intersections — a practice known as canning — and raising money through an annual date auction.The money is needed. The THON website says although today, up to 75 percent of the children with cancer can be cured, certain forms of childhood cancer have proven to be so resistant to treatment that, despite research, a cure is still elusive, and 2,300 children and teens will die from cancer this year.Since 1977, THON has raised more than $127 million benefiting Four Diamonds at Penn State Hershey.Walters said Four Diamonds picks up costs not covered by insurance, enabling families to solely focus on care for their child.Assistance from Four Diamonds ensures counselors, social workers, music therapists and other specialists are available.Domino said 3,000 patients and their families are currently supported by THON efforts.Which makes the sacrifice all the more bearable, said Walters, who was selected to dance in last year's marathon.“That was a one-and-done deal,” said Walters, who plans to cheer on the dancers with his fellow Atlas members from seats in the arena next week.“Staying awake on your feet, that was the hardest part. Trying to keep your brain to stay awake for 46 hours,” he said.
