[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING THE 52ND ANNUAL THON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 
and thank, and express my sincere gratitude for, an incredible group of 
students at Penn State University.
  This group of students has spent the last year dedicating countless 
hours to support a fantastic cause benefiting pediatric cancer 
patients.
  THON is a yearlong fundraising effort that culminates in an annual 
46-hour dance marathon to support, financially and emotionally, more 
than 4,500 families with children who are battling cancer.
  On February 16, Penn State students, staff, families, friends, 
volunteers, and spectators filled the Bryce Jordan Center for the 52nd 
annual THON to raise money for the Four Diamonds foundation.
  THON was founded in 1973 by Penn State fraternities and sororities. 
What began as a small fundraiser, bringing in $2,000 in its inaugural 
year, flourished into a campus-wide effort with more than 16,000 
student volunteers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  In 1977, THON partnered with the Four Diamonds foundation. Since 
then, not a single Four Diamonds family has received a medical bill, 
thanks to the tireless work and dedication of Penn State students.
  The Four Diamonds foundation was founded by Charles and Irma Millard 
in 1972 after their son, Christopher, lost his battle with cancer at 11 
years old.
  Before Christopher passed away, he wrote a story about a great knight 
who sought four diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty, and strength to 
be saved from an evil sorceress. His parents realized these four 
qualities were all necessary to overcome cancer. They created the Four 
Diamonds foundation in his memory.
  Over the past 50 years, THON has grown into the largest student-run 
philanthropy in the world. Students stood from 6 p.m. on Friday, 
February 16, until 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 18. It was an impressive 
feat to behold.
  What is even more incredible is the drive, fortitude, and flexibility 
these students showed in their commitment to this cause.
  This year, Penn State students raised a record-breaking 
$16,955,683.63. This surpasses THON's 2023 record-breaking total by 
nearly $2 million. To date, students have shattered records and raised 
more than $200 million.
  Of course, their dedication is to be applauded, but ask any Penn 
State student, and they will agree: THON isn't about them. It is about 
the children and families fighting cancer.
  THON is for the kids, and it is for families to focus on celebrating 
more birthdays, piano recitals, science fairs, graduations, and every 
other milestone a child should celebrate without fear. THON exists so 
one day, parents don't have to hear the words: ``Your child has 
cancer.''
  Madam Speaker, I am proud of these students, but more importantly, I 
am proud of the children and families who have the courage to fight 
back against pediatric cancer.
  Once again, I congratulate everyone involved in this year's THON. We 
Are.

                          ____________________