The Borough of State College once again will have a ceremonial name change in honor of this weekend’s Penn State Dance Marathon (THON).
Mayor Elizabeth Goreham read a proclamation at Monday night’s Borough Council meeting declaring that from 6 p.m. on Friday through 4 p.m. on Sunday (the duration of the 46-hour event), the borough will be known as the ‘City of THON.’
”For the Kids’ are three words that motivate and inspire 16,500 students across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to give of their time and selfless dedication in the pursuit of finding a cure for childhood cancer,’ the proclamation states.
Since 1977, THON has raised more than $137 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Medical Center to support pediatric cancer patients.
‘THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer, with a mission to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness and ensure funding for critical research — all in pursuit of a cure,’ the proclamation added. ‘Thanks to THON, the Four Diamonds and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center recruits world-class talent to continue innovative research benefitting children worldwide.’
It’s the third consecutive year that State College will adopt the ceremonial moniker.
Since THON takes place in the Bryce Jordan Center, it technically occurs in College Township. But the spirit of the proclamation is well understood.
Goreham also read a proclamation declaring March 5-11 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week in the borough. MS, a neurological disease of the central nervous system, affects 2.3 million people worldwide. According to the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that 24,000 people in the commonwealth live with MS.
MS typically strikes people between the ages of 20 and 50. The cause is unknown and no cure currently exists.
‘Stopping MS in its tracks, restoring what has been lost, and ending MS forever is the mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and one that all Americans and Pennsylvanians should support,’ the proclamation stated.
