Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Ubuntu Blogfest

Michelle Wallace over at Writer-In-Transit is celebrating her 3 year blog anniversary by hosting the Ubuntu Blog Hop. Here's the description in her own words.

What is ubuntu? "In Africa, there is a concept known as UBUNTU – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others." – Nelson Mandela.
So in the spirit of ubuntu, I invite you to join me in celebrating my 3rd blogoversary!
Date – 18th to 21st February. I've allowed 4 days to make it easier for you guys, since some people only post once a week… save the date that coincides with your blogging schedule!

You can join on her blog. The details are there and it's easy with lots of options. This is perfect timing for me. Every year around this time a wonderful, heartwarming event takes place at Penn State University. Penn State has received some bad press(lots of it deserved) in the past few years, but none of that minimizes the wonders of the annual Penn State Dance Marathon to raise money for the Four Diamond Fund at the Hershey Medical Center.

The Four Diamonds Fund, started by a family that lost a child to cancer, has made its mission to conquer childhood cancer. The fund insures that no family will suffer financial difficulty while their child faces cancer. They pay EVERY cent of medical care not covered by insurance. They do other supportive things for the families and now fund research also. The Penn State Dance Marathon, lovingly called 'Thon' by everyone connected in any way to Penn State, has raised more than $101 million dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund.

If you speak to a Penn State alumni, one of their warmest memories of attending the sprawling university will be of Thon. So many students want to participate, they can't all fit on the floor. My youngest son, who is senior, is excited to have his first chance to be on the actual dance floor this year.

The students work all year to earn money. They come home on weekends and stand at major intersections to beg money from cars stopped at red lights. They canvas business for pledges. During the weekend long Thon, cancer patients and their families give inspirational talks, thanking the students. There are tears by the buckets. There are families who have lost their children to the dread disease, there to thank the students. This year one of them will be our very close friends who lost their son last spring. Nick had been a speaker at previous Thons.

The Penn State Thon reminds me of all that is good and compassionate in the world. Sometimes as we age, we worry about where the younger generations are going. If you ever witnessed Thon, you would find comfort in the sight of all those young people working so hard for no personal gain. This week at PSU it's FTK, for the kids.

Thanks, Michelle, for the perfect timing of this hop and congrats on your blog anniversary.

26 comments:

Heather R. Holden said...

I never knew Penn State did that. What a great event for an even greater cause!

Shah Wharton said...

I just love how when peeps join together, so much good comes from it. It's all too easy to forget the purity in humanity. X

shahwharton.com

Shah Wharton said...

I just love how when peeps join together, so much good comes from it. It's all too easy to forget the purity in humanity. X

shahwharton.com

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I didn't know Penn State did that either. What a wonderful thing to bring all the students together for the good of others.

Pat Hatt said...

Never knew that either, that is sure awesome of them to do.

Stephanie Faris said...

We have the St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Center here in Tennessee. I had donated to it over the years, but I never really stopped to think about it until a social media friend had an infant who was diagnosed with cancer. She took her child to St. Jude's and was commenting on how the hospital and its research operates on about $1 million per day on donations. They even provide a place for parents to stay while their children are there...and sometimes parents stay for months. It brings all new meaning to your donation when you personally see the lives it touches.

Julie Flanders said...

What a wonderful thing to do. I've never heard of this event either, it really made me smile to read about it. Kudos to all of the students involved. I hope your son has a great time on the dance floor!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan .. this is a wonderful cause and I'm so pleased it's helping so many - your Thon must have opened many eyes to the families of those with cancer, and all the struggles they live with.

Until it happens - we do not understand ...

Great post ... I know the hospices too do so much for cancer sufferers ... Your son will benefit so much from being a part of the University Thon .. a great experience to join in with .. Hilary

Liz Blocker said...

I had no idea that Penn State did this every year. What an amazing, beautiful thing - and what an incredible organization. I'm so glad you shared this :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Thon is so well known in our area it seems like everyone knows about it but from the comments I realize what a regional event it is.

Robin said...

Never heard of this fundraising event, but !Wow! I think our faith in humanity needs renewing occasionally. This helps!!!

Stephen Tremp said...

I totally missed this bloghop. Not sure how. This is the first I seen it. Looks like a fun one though.

Michelle Wallace said...

This is a wonderful initiative for such a worthy cause.
It captures the essence of Ubuntu, which is basically human-ness/human kindness.
Thank you for reaching out... across cyberspace... to join in the spirit of Ubuntu!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

What a delightful thing for the students to do! That really binds together a community.

Christine Rains said...

What an amazing fundraiser. Thank you for sharing and it's so true to the meaning of community.

JJ said...

Susan: I am your newest follower, coming to you from Robin's blog.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm so happy I had the chance to tell you all about Thon. I hope my son sends me some pictures from the floor so I can share them.

Mark Means said...

Sounds like a great cause!

J.L. Campbell said...

Hi, Susan,
This is an inspiring story and shows what a difference we make collectively.

LD Masterson said...

This is a very cool thing. Thanks for sharing it.

Ava Quinn said...

Any time they're at the intersections in my area, I scramble to fish out all the extra money I can scrounge. It's such a great charity.

And The Four Diamonds Fund is such a great resource. It was named after a fantasy story a boy who had cancer wrote which was so sweet. Each diamond in his quest meant something different- Courage, Wisdom, Honesty and Strength- which the boy felt were necessary to beat his cancer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Diamonds

PK HREZO said...

That is so great. And I can imagine tears by the bucket is no understatement. So good to learn about this!

Unknown said...

So great to hear what Penn State does to give back, and that's such a great cause. Dance away!

Liza said...

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Yea Penn State!

Trisha said...

What an absolutely amazing idea - and 101 million dollars? WoW! It is awesome that the kids are involved in raising money for this cause.

Michael Di Gesu said...

What a wonderful event, Susan.

ANYTHING or ANYONE that helps children with cancer is aces in my book! I never heard of this organization. I have always supported St. Jude's for this very reason. How amazing to hear that there are other organization and so MANY people rallying for the same cause.

Thanks for sharing this with us!