UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- At first glance, Ian Hochberger is your average college student. However, unlike most Penn State students, Hochberger, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism, just attended his 20th consecutive Penn State Dance Marathon to celebrate his success in beating pediatric cancer.
Better known at THON, the 46-hour signature event of the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, was held Feb. 15-17, 2013, in the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus. Penn State students raised a record-breaking $12.37 million for the Four Diamonds Fund to benefit families and researchers fighting pediatric cancer at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.
Hochberger was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 22 months old. Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that develops from nerve tissue; additionally, it’s the most common extra-cranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy, with about 650 cases in the U.S. each year. His tumor covered 40 percent of his chest, had pushed his heart out of place, and was wrapped around his esophagus and trachea. Hochberger was given a three in 20 chance at a normal life.
Because he was so young, he doesn’t remember much, but his parents do. The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Medical Center helped lift the financial burden so his parents could focus on him, and not worry about more than they had to during his treatment.
Hochberger was adopted by the Four Diamonds Fund quickly after his diagnosis and remains part of Alpha Omicron Pi and Sigma Chi’s THON family. Although pediatric cancer patients helped by the fund are often known as Four Diamonds children, he refers to himself as a “THON kid.”
“THON has been my life, so my perspective of the event may be a little biased,” he said. “THON is really the best organization students can join while at Penn State.”