On September 27th, a documentary “Why We Dance: The Story of THON” will air on WPSU-TV at 8 p.m. The documentary will give light to parts of the philanthropic effort that most people haven’t seen.

The documentary will not only feature the dance marathon itself, but also some of the Four Diamonds families, the work that goes into making THON weekend a success, and events that happen throughout the year such as the THON 5K and canning trips. Additionally, it shows how the Hershey Medical Center has benefitted from THON, in ways like the creation of a new floor dedicated solely to cancer care.

A preview of the film shows how much THON has grown since it began in 1977, and it specifically documents the final moments of THON since 2007, where the amount of money raised is announced each year.

THON families will be able to see a preview of the movie at the Hershey Theatre, and certain chapters of the Penn State Alumni Association may choose to have screenings in selected cities. Filming for the documentary began in September of 2009, and was produced by the Penn State Public Broadcasting. The hour long show will also be streamed online and shown in other major cities throughout Pennsylvania.

About the Author

Katie Blitz

I'm a freshman Public Relations major. I was born in Staten Island, but I prefer to say I'm from New York City. I went to Brooklyn Tech High School, a specialized high school, and I'm very proud of it. I'm a huge sports fan - mostly (and sadly) a New York Jets fan.

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”