STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – THON 2025 inside the Bryce Jordan Center raised a record $17,737,040.93 for pediatric cancer research, but Friday, Saturday and Sunday were more than that. Over 16,500 student volunteers made the weekend possible and 708 dancers helped lead a 46-hour dance marathon.
Some volunteers who crossed the concourse at certain parts of the event described what it was like to be inside the BJC and take in its atmosphere.
Some volunteers needed plenty of preparation for such a long marathon, and Andrew Shavinsky, a senior biology major, was no different.
“I didn’t drink, I quit caffeine probably about two weeks ago, tried to fix my sleep schedule the best I could,” Shavinsky said, who’s part of the fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa. “Got into the gym, ate extra healthy just to get my body in the best shape possible coming into this.”
Others like Aidan Curvan, a junior majoring in accounting, didn’t need anything other than a break.
“I kind of just woke up, stayed on my normal schedule and I’ve kind of just been going,” Curvan said, who’s part of the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta. “I left for a little bit. I didn’t even go to bed. I just did homework that I forgot to do before for a couple hours and then came back this morning.”
Those who came to THON 2025 have reasons for doing so, and Tessa Brunetti, a senior majoring in marketing, lost her grandmother to cancer and can’t imagine a child suffering the same fate. She even got inspiration from a relative on Saturday.
“I’ve been here since the beginning and I almost left about three hours ago,” Brunetti said, who’s part of the fraternity Alpha Xi Delta. “But I got a call from my dad and he just told me that there’s other people that are going through things that are much harder than you.”
Allison Mulcahy, a freshman in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, was put to work jobs like clearing the upper bowls as part of a THON first-year committee. She hopes to carry that experience into next year.
“I’m hoping to take on a full-year committee member role next year and raise more money,” Mulcahy said.
When regarding the main stage inside the event, students enjoyed taking part in things like the line dance and watching live performances.
Brunetti likes the general bands that come out and play cover songs because people know them and can dance to them easily, but one song sticks out to her.
“I love “My Hero, Zero’,” Brunetti said. “It’s really great.”
Some others, however, like Ryan Garvey, a junior majoring in finance, focus on the big picture of raising money for cancer research.
“Hopefully one day we can find a cure,” Garvey said, who’s part of the business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu, the general organization that raised the most money for THON 2025. “Through all this, we can help the families who are struggling to cover medical payments.”
THON 2025’s record-setting fundraiser broke THON 2024’s record by more than $780,000.
You can contribute to THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, by going to thon.org.
Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.
Related: THON announces top fundraising totals for 2025 (Daily Collegian)
