Here is your final 2008 THON update!!
First is a message of thanks from the Club President Mary Waechter, and second
is another thank you from our Club VP, Co-THON Chair and dancer Rick Strable
(Our Mr. Everything)!
Congratulations to our THON dancers!!!!!
Britt, Beth, Marc, and Rick you guys were truly amazing this weekend!!!
Thanks for dancing for Club XC,and staying strong for 46 hours. FTK (for the
kids)!!!
Also, a big thank you to our THON chairs, Liz Belfield, and once again Rick
Strable. They have worked tirelessly all year long updating us on
THONevents,planning our very profitable canning trips, and making our
participation in an event of this magnitude a success. I don't know what we do
without you guys!!!
Additionally, I would like to thank past and present club members who were
involved with THON-related, Club XC events throughout the year. Your
dedication and commitment has been invaluable!!!
And if you didn't already hear, THON raised approximately $6.6 MILLION DOLLARS
this year in the fight against pediatric cancer.
GO STATE...BEAT CANCER,
-Mary
Well Gang
it's 3:35 AM and my body woke me up to go to the bathroom for the first time,
which is surprising considering I went at least once every ten minutes this
weekend it seemed. Alright, I know too much information, I know, but I'm
still a little delirious from the lack of sleep (or probably food, its been
awhile, and you know how that makes us fat kids- right Steve!). Anyways, I
just wanted to let you know how much my feet and back hurt; how at times all I
wanted more was to be in my bed; and how my memories of this weekend are a
blur. I also wanted to tell you how none of that matters. If there is any
cause in this world that can make me how I felt during those final four hours
again I would be there in a second. When all is said and done, the memories
that stick with you are the ones that truly count. You recall seeing the
children during THON -- hugging them, putting stickers on their shirts,
turning around to receive a face full of water from a child's squirt gun --
and also you recall feeling proud. Proud, not only for each and everyone of
the dancers out there going through what you're going through, but also proud
for every single person out there. The line dance said 14 Committees, 3000
strong; however, I think that is a bit misleading. It should have said 15,
because without all of the people in the stands showing there support for not
only their dancers, but this cause in general, is truly amazing. Most
importantly, we should be proud of the children. If you were to bring an
outsider to THON weekend Saturday morning and just walked him around, and
later asked him what he thought was going on, he would most likely think that
Penn State was holding a huge babysitting rave. The children are so strong,
and I think we should never lose sight of that, I know that help me
tremendously this weekend. Every time I felt weak and bend down I would get a
message, but I didn't need it (though I greatly appreciated it everyone)
because I was already thinking about the children of THON. If we could all
live with a fraction of their strength, and their hope, I think we would truly
affect this world. Never, ever lose sight of the true meaning of THON. Thank
you for everyone for your support (even our overseas friends.. by the way
Rinny, I did survive, so you can go Jason Bourne on me whenever you want
now). The line dance said "Family Forever" and it's true. No matter what
petty differences will undoubtedly arise between some of us in the future, we
can always think back to the day when we put aside all of that and did
something truly amazing, when we did something FOR THE KIDS!!!!!!!!
Much Love,
-Rick Strable
Club XC Vice President
Club XC THON Chair
FTK!
To donate online or learn more, visit www.thon.org!
THON Mailing Address:
210 HUB
University Park, PA 16802
