Penn State 'Thon' Raises Nearly $10 Million To Fight Childhood Cancer

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Hundreds of students taking part in Penn State's annual dance marathon over the weekend have raised more than $9.7 million for pediatric cancer research and care.

The Penn State Dance Marathon known as "Thon" began Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College and wound up at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Organizers announced that the 46-hour event billed as the largest student-run philanthropy raised $9,770,332.32.

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Thousands of students are involved planning, soliciting donations and helping more than 700 dancers make it through the grueling weekend.

Money raised benefits pediatric cancer patients and their families at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Child cancer survivors and their families also take part.

Over $13 million was raised last year, bringing the total since 1977 to more than $125 million.

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