THON dancers start preparing for 46-hour standing marathon early

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – THON is this weekend, and some dancers have been preparing for weeks now.

Thon is the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, and it provides support to families and children impacted by childhood cancer.

On Friday, dancers will stand up and won’t sit or sleep until Sunday.

Sophomore criminology major Justine Buell brings her water bottle with her everywhere she goes.

“I’m trying to drink a lot of water this week and work ahead on my homework so that I can get a really good night’s rest on Thursday,” Buell said.

She said she still needs to pack her bag.

“Yeah, I should probably pack,” she said with a laugh.

Dancers are also encouraged to stop drinking caffeine prior to standing and to rest and hydrate starting several weeks before.

Senior economics major Tori Kovalchick said she’s dancing for the Four Diamonds family paired with her organization.

And she’s been prepping for weeks.

“My biggest focus has been moving my body more, so focusing on stretching and yoga and then doing workouts like hill intervals and walking to help strengthen my legs,” Kovalchick said. “I’ve also been increasing my water intake, getting on a really consistent sleep schedule, eating more nutritious foods and cutting out sugars and caffeines and other things that would kind of mess with my body and my metabolism over the weekend.”

THON dancers are advised to bring changes of clothes, especially shoes and socks, hygiene products and anything that will help them accomplish the physical feat of standing for 46 hours straight.

Katie Knol is a senior majoring in digital/print journalism and political science. To contact her, email her at ktk5187@psu.edu.