STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Student organizers of the annual Penn State dance marathon say they've raised $12.37 million for pediatric cancer research and care, shattering last year's record by nearly $1.7 million.
The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is billed as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Students have now raised more than $100 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital since 1977.
The event, commonly known as THON, requires more than 700 participants to stand on their feet for 46 hours, supported by thousands of volunteers. Pediatric cancer patients and their families also attend the event that takes over the Jordan Center basketball arena.
The festivities ended 4 p.m. Sunday. Weary, sleep-deprived dancers stayed motivated with party songs, pep talks and emotional meetings with cancer patients.
©2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.