The THON™ 5K Powered by PNC is an annual event in late October kicking off the Dream Forward campaign. Supporters, volunteers, and Four Diamonds families gather at the Bryce Jordan Center to run or walk the 5K in pursuit of a cure for childhood cancer.
Jaxon Eichelberger and his mom, Kayla, attended the event with their partnered organization, Phi Gamma Nu (PGN). Jaxon is a 7-year-old cancer survivor who beat High-Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2022, just a few weeks before his fourth birthday. He spent his time at the 5K enjoying the food, doing the Superhero Stretch, playing football with the PGN brothers, and taking on the Nittany Lion in a push-up contest. He came in second place in the kids race! After the 5K began, Jaxon waited near the finish line and raced as many runners as he could to the finish.
Jaxon is now in 2nd grade, and his favorite parts of school are snacks, free time, and recess. He plays defense for his soccer team and loves to play video games with friends. He watches Penn State Football and the Eagles and attended the THON Football game this year!
Kayla reflected on her experience with THON. She compared the end of THON Weekend every year to the end of treatment.
“When everyone sits, I really compared it to when I gave him his last medicine. … That sigh of relief; you made it. You did it. You’re done. You’re crying happy tears…” When Jax beat cancer, the Eichelberger’s threw a party to celebrate on his last day of chemo. Their family and friends came together to share breakfast, ring orange bells, and celebrate Jax.
The Eichelberger Family has been to every THON since 2023, and they have created new memories every year. Jax loves the water guns, spraying everyone he can. He throws the football to the stands and entertains the crowd from the floor. They spend their THON Weekend with PGN’s four other families, getting to know them and their stories.
Jaxon’s elementary school does a Mini-THON every year, and Kayla is a chair for their Mini-THON 2026! Jaxon and Kayla ended their Sunday with a barbecue hosted by PGN, and they can’t wait to come back to State College for more pre-THON events!
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.
