Penn State Global Brigades dancer Lyndsay Stakem (junior-biobehavioral health) is brought to tears by Hannah Olszewski (junior-marketing) during the final four hours of THON while dancing from her apartment on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Olszewski expressed her thankfulness for Stakem’s friendship, writing her a heartfelt note for Stakem’s THON inspiration wall.
Penn State THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, spends each year raising money to fund pediatric cancer research and care, culminating in a 46-hour-long no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon in Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this is the first year that THON was virtual, live-streaming events and performances over the 46-hour period with dancers dancing from their homes. Dancers, orgs, and clubs found ways to celebrate THON 2021, despite the virtual format.