hello loveleighs! for those of you who don’t know, i am currently in my last semester at penn state abington! this past weekend was the start of a huge event for all penn state students – thon canning weekend. right now some of you may be asking yourself, “what is thon and what do you mean by canning?” sit tight and let me explain:
thon is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. their mission is to provide emotional and financial support, spread awareness and ensure funding for critical research – all in pursuit of a cure.
penn state thon members are given 3 weekends in the fall semester where they are able to go out and can for this amazing organization. if you are ever driving around and see young girls and guys dressed in silly costumes, fun getups or decked out in blue and white, it is a good chance these people are canners for thon. these students volunteer their time to stand on the side of the street in the cold, rain, and sometimes even snow, to raise money for kids fighting for their lives. they use this time to carry signs and shake cans for donations, while sporting smiles and most importantly radiating positivity, all in hopes that their selflessness and hard work will lead to a change.
mahatma gandhi, quoted above, was right with his philosophy on change – you may not have the power to completely change a situation, but you do have the power to help make a step towards that change. a prime example are the penn state canners – they cannot take away childhood cancer, but they will carry their signs, shake their cans and radiate positivity until the fight is over, never without a smile on their faces.
always remember, the littlest change can help make a huge difference.
ttynm!