Honorary PSU rugby teammate Logan McCarthy /// Photo: Tess Feury •
The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Its mission is to fight pediatric cancer, raising funds that support research and comprehensive care. THON is a culminating event that brings visibility to the cause via a 46-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon. It’s a charity in which Penn State Rugby is invested, and the Nittany Lions have special reason to celebrate this year.
In 2014, Penn State Rugby was paired with Logan McCarthy and family. At age three, Logan was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
“Logan has become a part of the Penn State Rugby family,” Penn State’s Tess Feury reflected on time spent with the McCarthys. “About once a month, members of the men’s and women’s teams visit Logan and his family either at Hershey Medical Center or at their home in Harrisburg, Pa., and do a fun event, such as attending Penn State soccer games or going bowling or having him attend one of our home rugby games. … Logan loves spending time with the Penn State Rugby teams and especially loves running around and wrestling with the boys.”
THON 2017 will be held at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center on Feb. 17-19, and junior scrumhalf Carly Waters and senior center Jessie Purawaic will be representing the rugby program on the dance floors. Their teammates will support from the stands and also participate in the Athlete Hour Pep Rally, where each sport’s team performs a dance in front of the 15-000-seat arena. You might see a little extra pep from the rugby teams.
“Logan is now on the road to recovery and rings his end-of-treatment bell on February 7,” Feury relayed. “Penn State Men’s and Women’s Rugby is working toward increasing our fundraising, so no parent ever has to hear the words, ‘Your child has cancer,’ and so little ruggers like Logan have the opportunity to take the pitch.”
Logan is a success story, one that THON wants to replicate. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $137 million for Four Diamonds, which ensures that counselors, social workers, music therapists and other specialists are aiding the patients and families at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. THON enables Four Diamonds and the Penn State Hershey Medical Center to recruit top talent and continue innovative research benefitting children worldwide.
For more information on THON, visit http://thon.org
To contribute to Penn State’s fundraising efforts, visit the rugby team’s donation page: http://bit.ly/2iB5Mu1