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Kids dream about growing up to be many things: firefighters, teachers, doctors, professional athletes, and even superheroes. A child with cancer dreams about the chance to grow-up.
 
Every year, 12,500 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer.

At Penn State University, over 15,000 students come together to make a difference in the lives of these children.  You too can join us in our efforts to conquer childhood cancer.
 
THON's mission is to conquer childhood cancer by providing outstanding emotional and financial support to the kids, families, researchers, and staff of The Four Diamonds Fund. 

The treatment plan for a child with cancer is lengthy and expensive.  Many of the treatment options are not covered by insurance.  THON and The Four Diamonds Fund offset any expenses a family’s insurance will not cover.  

Conquering childhood cancer requires the support of many medical professionals.  With the contributions of caring individuals, THON and The Fund are able to provide the children with a world-class team of specialists, including pediatric oncology nurses, child life specialists, clinical nutritionists, and a music therapist. 

The Fund has helped kids like eleven-year-old Joey Setlock, who was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare and fast moving cancer.   A tumor the size of a man’s fist was wrapped around Joey’s bowels, there were tumors in his kidneys, and about 50% of his bone marrow was infected.  Today, the Setlock’s and the THON community are happy to report Joey is cancer free!

When reflecting on the experience, Joey’s mom, Kathy, said, “While the ugly book of cancer had us as main characters, we were being added to another book and that was the book of THON. A whole new and wonderful world was opened to us when we attended our first THON. You can’t describe the event – you have to experience it.”

No family has even been turned away from THON or The Four Diamonds Fund.

The Fund is also actively involved in research initiatives with the goal of discovering a cure for pediatric cancer.  Childhood cancer research is severely underfunded.  Researchers believe pediatric cancer can be cured in our lifetime, but only if proper funding is secured now.
 
Today, up to 75% of the children with cancer can be cured, yet some forms of childhood cancers have proven so resistant to treatment that, in spite of research, a cure is still elusive.

Please join the fight to conquer childhood cancer, by making a donation today.  You have the power to help save lives.  

We are forever grateful for your donation.