July 1 marked the official start of THON™ 2026, and with it, students, alumni, volunteers, and supporters worldwide are uniting under one mission: to conquer childhood cancer.
To kick off the fundraising year, THON is launching its annual Ignite the Fight campaign, a month-long celebration of the community’s year-long effort all in support of finding a cure For The Kids®. The campaign will continue throughout July and include exciting events and opportunities to get involved in the fight.
Whether you’re a returning volunteer, new participant, or alumni, the Ignite the Fight campaign is your first chance to make a difference in THON’s 2026 fundraising campaign.
One of the main events of Ignite the Fight is the DonorDrive Challenge, running from July 2 through July 11. This challenge is designed to kick off THON 2026 and reward supporters and volunteers with bonus funding.
Any student or alumni volunteer who creates a DonorDrive page will be entered into a lottery to win crediting funds that can go towards an organization or Independent Dancer Couple (IDC) of their choice.
Getting involved is easy!
Once you’ve completed those three simple steps, you will be automatically entered into the challenge. THON will also be posting other opportunities to receive additional entries on the @pennstatethon Instagram page!
THON is more than a weekend in February; it’s a year-long effort. Ignite the Fight is only the beginning of THON 2026, and by participating, you are helping make a difference in the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.
Stay tuned all month long for more Ignite the Fight events to come!
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.
