THON 2024 raises record-breaking $16.9 million
Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and our young patients cheered for THON during its 46-hour dance marathon on Feb. 16 to 18 at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park and throughout the year.
The largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON focuses entirely on raising money and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer. All THON proceeds benefit Four Diamonds in its mission to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children being treated at the Children’s Hospital and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
When you help THON, you’re making a difference that lasts a lifetime.
The Young People Who Inspire Us
Every pediatric cancer survivor has a different story and experience. But the one thing they all share is the ability to inspire us with their courage and determination. That’s why at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we're proud that kids with cancer have access to a level of expertise and breadth of services not available elsewhere in the region.
How Kennedy took on cancer and won.
When your son has cancer: Support helps family stay positive.
The Region’s Only Children’s Hospital
Every parent has one wish for their child: for them to be happy and healthy. When that wish is threatened by a serious illness, they want access to expert medical treatment, education and support. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals for pediatric cancer care, the Children’s Hospital has been a source of comprehensive, compassionate hematology and oncology care for infants, children and adolescents in central Pennsylvania for more than 25 years. We’re the only children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fully equipped to treat the most severely ill children with a full spectrum of high-quality care.
To learn more about our comprehensive pediatric cancer care, visit the Children’s Hospital website or call 717-531-6012 to schedule an appointment.
Four Diamonds partnership puts focus on healing
By offering a combination of superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Four Diamonds are helping in the fight to save lives and bring the world closer to a cure for children everywhere.
Four Diamonds champions many efforts - including THONTM, the largest student-run philanthropy - and other donor opportunities that contribute to this mission. Since its founding in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 4,800 childhood cancer patients and their families. In addition, research funds have helped to validate numerous hypotheses, allowing for NRC grants and furthering our work to heal patients and find a cure.
Donate to Four Diamonds or learn about more ways to get involved.
A mission to conquer childhood cancer
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine strengthened their commitment to curing childhood cancer in September 2023 they welcomed Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler, an internationally known physician-scientist, and the Beat Childhood Cancer Research Consortium to Hershey. The move provides greater access to groundbreaking pediatric cancer care and research, including clinical trials, for Penn State Health patients and surrounding communities.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first drug based on Sholler’s research and clinical trials she led through the consortium to reduce the risk of relapse for pediatric high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
In 2022, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Four Diamonds teamed up to develop the Four Diamonds Center for Childhood Cancer Innovation. The center enhances research on childhood cancer in three key areas:
- Patient care
- Collaborative opportunities between adult and children’s care
- Competitive research grants
Research and Clinical Trials
Research and discovery are important components of the pediatric cancer care at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Through basic, clinical and translational research, physicians and researchers at the Children’s Hospital and Penn State College of Medicine are making new discoveries to advance the understand and treatment of childhood cancers.
If your child has been diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder, your care team will discuss the available treatment options with you and your family. The available options may include ones that are considered standard treatment, as well as new options that are available through leading-edge clinical trials.
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are studies that evaluate new treatments and therapies. Many of today’s standard treatments for cancer are based on the results of previous clinical trials. Participation in a clinical trial is strictly voluntary. It is important for families to talk with their care team about available clinical trial opportunities and understand what is involved in participating.
Is a Clinical Trial the Right Option for My Child?
For many cancer and blood disorder patients, clinical trials provide new options for treatment. Often, clinical trials give children with rare or difficult-to-treat conditions access to innovative therapies that may help where traditional treatments fail.
Talk with your child’s provider about the full set of treatment options and what you can expect from a clinical trial. If your child participates in a clinical trial, they may stop the treatment on the trial at any time and receive standard therapy instead.
Find out if clinical trials are available for your child’s condition.
Then talk with your child’s provider about the full set of treatment options and what you can expect from a clinical trial. If your child participates in a clinical trial, they may stop the treatment on the trial at any time and receive standard therapy instead.
We offer convenient locations:
- Penn State Health Children’s Hospital (inpatient/outpatient)
- Call: 717-531-6012
- Fax referrals and records: 717-531-0332
- Penn State Health Children’s Lancaster Pediatric Center
- Penn State Health Pediatric Specialties (Reading)