Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<Anne and Shayne Beecher say the Penn State Dance Marathon and the Four Diamonds Fund
saved their son’s life… and that is why they want people in every town…everywhere…to
watch the documentary…
“Why We Dance: the story of THON.”>>
Anne & Shayne Beecher son diagnosed with pediatric cancer
<<Everyone of those communities has a child with cancer… several…
there isn’t a single school in America without a student with cancer… one is too many…
we need to redirect some of the focus and find a cure… imagine what the country can
do if we all pull together.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<They laugh…
they cry … and they dance…
The Penn State Dance Marathon…
better known as THON… has raised more than $88 million since 1977 to help fight pediatric
cancer.>>
Dr. Barbara Miller Chief division of pediatric hematology and
oncology <<One of the things that the funds they raise
goes to is research and the reason why research is so important is because 20 percent of kids
with pediatric cancer may still succumb to their disease.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<The money raised goes to the Four Diamonds Fund, part of the Penn State Hershey Medical
Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
There…
thousands of families are helped financially… and emotionally during their fight against
pediatric cancer…
Now thanks to this documentary from Penn State Public Broadcasting, viewers can see some
of the magic that goes on behind-the-scenes.
The hour-long film introduces viewers to families supported by thon and follows Penn State THON
students during their year-long effort to raise money for the fund.
Dozens of THON families…
many profiled in the film… were able to watch a sneak peak recently at the Hershey
theatre.>>
Anne & Shayne Beecher son diagnosed with pediatric cancer
<<We just think it is incredible the story that is being told.
I think a lot of people have heard about THON but, I don’t think people realize the true
impact that these students have and have had on our lives and thousands more.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<>
Laura Trimble daughter diagnosed with cancer
<<Our pediatrician looked at us and said I think its leukemia and you are going to Hershey
tonight.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<Doctors diagnosed their daughter…
Ella when she was just two-years-old.>>
<<Our first THON Ella was in the hospital sick and Jacob was five…
it wasn’t just about Ella… it wasn’t just about us, it was about the whole family
and getting them involved with thon.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<Ella… who is now a thriving five-year-old completed her treatments in 2011… and was
able to share a joke with dancers during that year’s event.>>
Ella Trimble cancer survivor
<<Why did the Penn State lion cross the road?
Why?
Cuz it wanted to go to THON.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<The Rupp family has been going to thon for 18 years… because that is where they feel
closest to their daughter…
Felicia.>>
Deanna & Kevin Rupp lost daughter to cancer
<<She loved thon with all her heart.
She already said that she loved thon more than Christmas morning.
She just couldn’t wait for thon.
when she passed away in 1998 we didn’t’ go back to thon for two years… it was too
hard but we have younger children and we wanted them to experience what thon was and so we
went back and kept going back ever since.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<Doctor Miller says the goal of the Four Diamonds Fund is to find a cure.
She says the efforts of thon are now more important than ever before because federal
dollars for childhood cancer research are being cut.
>> Ashley Fazekas
Cancer survivor <Thon is really the best place ever.
You get to have fun and you get to raise money for kids with cancer.
I feel happy that I’m cured.>>
Erin Calandra Penn State Outreach Reporter
<<For more information log onto wpsu.org/thondocumentary
For Penn State Outreach I’m Erin Calandra>>