46 Miles For A Cause! Help Kids Beat Cancer!

Hi Everyone :)

I have decided that I am going to walk a total of 46 miles before September 13. 

For those of you who may not know, I hold a special place in my heart for THON. THON is a charity that I am completely passionate about. I have seen first hand just what the money raised for THON and the Four Diamonds Fund does. 

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world! Penn State students come together every February for a 46 hour no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon held at the Bryce Jordan Center. As a Penn State alum, I can honestly say that this is without a doubt the best thing I could have ever participated in. I am still very active in THON today and am always bringing awareness about the cause. We dance so no parent ever has to hear the words "your child has cancer" ever again.

Since 1973, THON has raised over $100M For The Kids (FTK)! I have seen first hand the impact this has on families. I have met our THON families. They are the most down-to-Earth and compassionate people I have ever met. 

The money raised for THON goes directly to our THON families. Because of THON, no family has to pay a medical bill. They don't have to pay for housing while their child is at Hershey Medical Center for treatments/hospital stays. They don't have to worry about food. Everything is covered. Parents are able to put all their energy and focus into their child becoming healthy and beating this terrible disease. 

The remainder of the money raised by THON goes to cancer research and bringing in activities for the kids, one being music therapy. Just to break it down a little:

$60 covers one hour of child life coverage

$150 covers one day of outpatient treatment for Leukemia

$750 covers one experiment at Penn State’s Children Hospital in search of a cure

Now, I know what you're thinking; if THON isn't until February, why am I walked 46 miles by September 13?

Last year I decided to step up and bring awareness of THON to my hometown. For as big as THON is, there aren't too many people outside of State College, PA who know about it. I planned a Help Kids Beat Cancer! benefiting THON fundraiser, and it was a success! I had a lot of fun planning the whole thing and coming up with different activities for kids to do. 

I decided to make this an annual thing, and so the 2nd annual Help Kids Beat Cancer! benefiting THON fundraising event will be held on September 14 at Monessen City Park. There will be games for kids to play and earn prizes, a bake sale, a Chinese Auction, and even vendors! 100% of proceeds goes directly to THON. 

The 46 miles I'm walking is equivalent to the 46 hours the THON dancers have to stand. I will never stop fighting for these kids. I'll never stop fighting until there is a cure for pediatric cancer. No one, especially a child, should have to go through that. The heartbreak I feel for the kids and their families is what motivates me to do more. 

One day we will dance for joy. Until then, we dance for life!

FTK!

For more information on what THON is, please visit www. thon.org

If you are interested in donating or becoming a vendor for the 2nd annual Help Kids Beat Cancer! benefiting THON event, please don't hesitate to contact me at nmwilliamsauthor@gmail.com

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