Cancer survivor becomes Penn State Thon volunteer, calls it ‘world’s largest family’

Penn State student and Thon volunteer Braden Fleagle greeted a visitor with a wide smile Friday night in the opening hours of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. He knew he had a long weekend ahead of him — but he also knew it would all be worth it.

After all, the World Campus student understood the impact of the 46-hour dance marathon better than most. Not only is he a volunteer this year for the event that raises money to fight pediatric cancer but, a few years ago, he became a Four Diamonds child himself. At the age of 16, he was diagnosed with germinoma cancer after failing his driver’s permit test due to eyesight issues.

And he hoped to get even more people this weekend to see the true impact of Thon.

“I love sharing my story,” Fleagle told the CDT. “People always said I was a good public speaker beforehand, but now I have something that I really can do to help those kids who are going through this.”

Thon’s large impact is difficult to quantify. It is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, raising money for Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey. Since 1977, more than $236 million has been raised.

Cancer diagnosis

Fleagle wanted to be a part of Thon because of the hope and support it offers so many. He saw that firsthand, after his own diagnosis.

In 2021, a couple days after turning 16, Fleagle said that he was confused after failing the vision screening of his driver’s permit test and visited an eye doctor. After seeing the specialist, he was urged to visit Hershey Pediatric Emergency Room, where doctors discovered a mass in his brain.

He was diagnosed with germinoma, a form of brain cancer that is most common in children and young adults. After consulting doctors, Fleagle had to stay at Hershey Pediatrics in the midst of COVID-19.

“Only because I was 16, was I allowed to have my parents with me,” Fleagle said. “I didn’t get to see my brother for 13 days.”

Fleagle said that his Dillsburg, Pa., family moved to Philadelphia for six weeks to ensure he received the proper treatment.

After receiving his first surgery, Fleagle was later told he would have to undergo a second surgery.

“My life was completely turned upside down,” Fleagle said. “I was a 16 year old who just couldn’t wait to get his permit and drive — to fighting a battle against cancer.”

He jokingly compared his surgery to Star Wars, which he is an avid fan of, and said his radiation treatment was the “most realistic Star Wars day experience.” Fleagle received 25 rounds of proton radiation in the head, three each day.

He went into remission later that same year and immediately became involved in Thon.

Recovering & helping

Despite now being in remission for more than four years, he suffers a variety of different daily symptoms that serve as a lasting reminder of his cancer.

Fleagle said that the most frustrating lasting effect is his short-term memory loss. He said it’s hard for him to remember names or things that were just told to him.

A common misconception about remission, Fleagle said, is that “you rang the bell, you’re all good” but the reality is quite different. He attends frequent check-ups that involve bloodwork, MRIs and other tests. He described a constant anxiety that the cancer will come back.

“I still battle things that are never going to go away,” Fleagle said.

Fleagle and his family have since participated in Thon in many ways, with his younger brother performing as a musician on Friday night. He said he doesn’t have a big extended family and sees the Thon community as the “family I got to pick.”

“When you’re a Four Diamonds kid, you’re also involved with Thon, which just becomes the world’s largest family and is there for you,” Fleagle said. “I still keep in touch with so many volunteers from past years, and they’re just all incredible.”

Looking ahead

After years of remission, Fleagle has slowly regained his ability to do what he loves — play board games with his family and indulge in his love for Marvel movies. He is now also involved in the World Campus Student Government Association.

A year after his diagnosis, he even passed his driver’s test.

Fleagle said he is “thankful to be here” and to be with his family participating in Thon. He recalled talking to his doctor prior to his brain surgery and asked his surgeon what would happen if he didn’t go through with the operation. They told him he’d be “dead in three weeks.”

“It’s nice to wake up every day and to be able to support these kids,” Fleagle said.

This story was originally published February 21, 2026 at 12:53 PM.