THE ISSUE: Itâs Monday, the day we take a few moments to highlight the good news in Lancaster County. Some of these items are welcome developments on the economic front or for neighborhoods across the county. Others are local stories of achievement, perseverance, compassion and creativity that represent welcome points of light in a still-difficult time. All of this news deserves a brighter spotlight.
We have another dandy batch of âGood Thingsâ to amplify today, and it starts with an inspirational story from a gnome-stead â err, homestead â in southeastern Lancaster County.
Richard Humphreys, a 78-year-old who runs the beloved Gnome Countryside nature trail in Kirkwood, is preparing to walk 380 miles to Ohio in order to âraise awareness about Type 1 diabetes and honor the 100th anniversary of insulinâs use as a treatment,â Mike Andrelczyk reported in the May 2 Sunday LNP | LancasterOnline.
A Penn State University graduating senior from Lancaster, who has both benefited from and raised money for the university s annual THON campaign, got a big surprise on NBC s Today show Thursday morning.
The Subway corporation donated $25,000 to Penn State s THON as a tribute to Nick Vicidomini s work with the nonprofit, which raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund that supports families of children with cancer.
Vicidomini is a 2017 graduate of Manheim Township High School and a cancer survivor. This past year, he has been on the executive board of THON, serving as dance relations captain.
On the hour of Today hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, a brief history of THON was presented along with Vicidomini s story.
Penn State Thon, central Pa. volunteer featured on ‘Today’ show
Updated May 06, 2021;
Thon, Penn State University’s annual fundraising dance marathon, got a big spotlight on the national stage earlier today thanks to a segment on NBC’s “Today” show.
The segment highlighted the work that both Thon and the nonprofit Four Diamonds Fund does in helping raise awareness about childhood chancer and help families struggling with the cost of cancer treatments.
Featured in the segment was Thon 2021 Dancer Relations Director and Manheim Twp. graduate Nick Vicidomini, who talked about how he contracted cancer as a child and his experience with the Four Diamonds Fund led him to become a student at Penn State University and Thon volunteer.
In 2006, Vicidomini was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma. That s kind of when my life turned upside down, Vicidomini said on the Today Show.
This also marked the beginning of Vicidomini s experience with Four Diamonds organization, which helped the Vicidominis pay for costs that insurance didn t cover for the treatment. It gives you hope. It gives you a little sense that you can have a regular life, Dennis Vicidomini, Nick s father, said.
In 2007, Vicidomini attended his very first THON. It was the best weekend of my life up to that point, Vicidomini said on the TODAY Show. That was the first time since my diagnosis that I was treated like a kid.
His story with THON was a part of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna’s “Thankful Thursday” slot. Vicidomini was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in the summer of 2006 and has been cancer-free since October 2009.
“I can’t really even express it. It’s been so awesome just being able to give back to the organization that saved my life,” Vicidomini said.
When Nick Vicidomini was diagnosed with cancer as a child, funds raised by Penn State’s dance marathon, Thon, helped to save his life. Now, he is giving back as a member of the organization’s executive board. pic.twitter.com/sljM92cSp5 TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) May 6, 2021