Written By: Ryan Murphy, Pratham Shah, Ava Acevedo, Faith Houpt
Ready, set, go! On Sunday, October 26th, a sea of students participated in the THON™ 5K powered by PNC and kicked off Dream Forward. From the THON 5K to the 100 Days ‘Til THON Celebration, we work together to raise $1,250,000. For the first time this year, supporters from all over the world were able to participate in the 5K virtually! The event had fun activities, including the THON 2025 Line Dance, face painting stations, and delicious local food trucks.
Supporters went to Inspire Every Step for the 25th annual race, and we got the chance to interview three runners who dedicated their run to their THON Family; Kiera Dooley, Meghan Schirm, and Makenna Malone are all a part of the organization Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA). During a conversation with this group of truly passionate runners, a powerful story of inspiration emerged.
They explained that their primary motivation stems directly from their roles as the primary chairs for ESA. This leadership position connects them deeply with their THON family. This personal bond they share became the catalyst, inspiring them to become more hands-on in the fight against childhood cancer.
“We’re all the primary chairs for ESA… we’re inspired by our THON families and everything, and by THON’s mission…we want to be involved as much as possible.”
This Sunday morning run wasn’t just about endurance; it was a heartfelt dedication. They were running for their THON family, the Kyler Sumpmans family. Kyler is celebrating three years of being cancer-free! All three runners, who noted their previous experience with THON, also projected an amazing, unified passion For The Kids®.
“We’re so happy to be here and to spend our Sunday running for the kids!”
Ultimately, this story is a powerful representation of THON spirit. The passion of these runners, born from their connection to the Sumpmans’ journey, is the same emotional engine that fuels the entire THON community. It beautifully illustrates the shared belief that an individual commitment, whether it comes from a leadership role or a strenuous run, weaves into a tangible, powerful network of support, turning hope into action.
To ensure that THON is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we heavily rely on donor support. These donations provide us the resources to create endless memories for our Four Diamonds families & foster a deep love & connection to our mission for our volunteers through Pre-THON Events, alternative fundraisers, & THON Weekend.
