It was an ordinary day. Relaxing and reading the morning paper when I came across a story titled "THON volunteer gets big surprise." For those reading this story and not knowing what "THON" might be, THON is Penn State University's IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON, which is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. THON is a year-long effort which raises funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer. One year while Carol and I were visiting with our friends, Jere and Sue, who live in State College, we visited the event which was held in the gym at Penn State University. Neat experience! Well, my morning newspaper story told of a Penn State University student who will be graduating from Penn State who has both benefited from and raised money for the annual THON campaign. He recently got a big surprise on NBC's "Today" program. Seems that the fellow, by the name of Nicholas Vicidomini, who has helped by volunteering with THON for many years, was interviewed remotely for the hour of "Today" that is hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. He explained that he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2006, the summer after his first-grade year in Manheim Township School District. Wow! I read on and found that Nick had graduated from Manheim Township High School in 2017. If you have been a reader of this blog you may perhaps remember that I too graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1962 and went back to teach in the same school district for 33 more years. And...the name of Nick Vicidomini sounded very familiar! Went to my home office and opened my cabinet that held the myriad of yearbooks that I have been the advisor to for over 50 years. Did a bit of mental figuring and grabbed the 2012 Manheim Township Middle School Yearbook and opened it to the "The Class of 2017."
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| Nicholas Vividomini as a Middle School student |
Yep...there was Nick on page 43... and page 47, and page 48 and page 59 and...well I stopped looking at that point. I do remember this young man from his time spent in Middle School and High School at Manheim Township School District. Handsome young man who participated in just about everything from music to sports in his Middle School years. His parents, Dennis and Carla, who were also interviewed on the show, told about their son being airlifted to Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where his cancer was diagnosed, and also recalled receiving a sense of hope after being told that their expenses that were not covered by their insurance, would be covered by the Four Diamonds Fund.  |
| Photo submitted by NBC showing Nick with Hoda and Jenna |
Well, Nick explained to Hoda and Jenna that in 2007 he traveled to Penn State for his first THON and felt like he wasn't being treated like "a kid with cancer...but just like a regular kid." He told them that "I made a promise to myself: I want to help people feel the way I felt during the week of THON." He told them, "It was honestly full circle. "Growing up, being a part of THON as a family...being benefitted by this organization has been truly amazing. Once I got to Penn State...I wanted to join this organization and try and give back as much as I could." While on the show with Hoda and Jenna, he was connected virtually with his family as well as Four Diamonds families, staff and health-care workers who have been impacted by THON fundraising. Then, the "Today" hosts surprised him with a $25,000. donation given by "Subway." As I finished reading about Nick and his time on TV with Hoda and Jenna, something struck me. I wrote about this young man several times in the past. I opened a story in my blog and typed in "THON" in the upper white box at the top left of the page. Sure enough, there were a few stories about THON as well as Nick. If you care to read them you can find them on Monday, February 28, 2011; Sunday, March 24, 2013; Saturday, February 17, 2018; and Saturday, November 14, 2020. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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