THON proposal reflects couple’s commitment

It was Hour 32 of THON, and Taylor Hennon had hit the wall.

She was exhausted and sleepy. Her emotions bordered on delirium. This is all par for the course with THON, Penn State’s 46-hour dance marathon designed to raise money to support children and families as they combat pediatric cancer.

But then came Mail Call, an event during THON weekend in which dancers get letters and packages from friends, family, and supporters to inspire and motivate them to continue dancing. Hennon had no idea she was about to receive the biggest pick-me-up imaginable.

The final letter she read came from Timmy Donovan, her boyfriend, whom she had met five years earlier during a trip to Germany while they were both students at Penn State Behrend. He joined her on the dance floor as she read the letter.

“There were a lot of references to the future. In his letter, he wrote of how proud my grandma would be of me,” said Hennon, who graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2013 and is now pursuing a master’s degree in counseling at University Park. “Then, right after, he asked me (to marry him). I just remember hugging him, and he said, ‘I have something of your grandma’s that I really want to give you.’”

For Donovan and Hennon, THON, which was held Feb. 20-22 this year at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center, was the perfect venue for a proposal. For the past four years, it’s been a staple of their relationship, and for the proposal, Donovan presented Hennon’s grandmother’s ring, which made the moment even more meaningful.

“I knew THON would be the right place to (propose) because it has been such a big part of our relationship,” said Donovan, who graduated from Penn State Behrend and is now pursuing a master’s degree in higher education at University Park. “It’s always been the mainstay in our relationship.”

Following the proposal, it was not long before the entire Bryce Jordan Center caught on to what was happening.

“There was this moment where I opened my eyes and looked around, and the entire Bryce Jordan Center was watching us and applauding. It was surreal,” Donovan said.

The timing of the proposal also re-energized Hennon, who danced independently in this year’s THON. From that point on, she was excited to share the news with her mother, who later joined her on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday morning.

Throughout their THON involvement over the years, the two endured a breakup, but their connection to the cause kept them close. The two both became involved with it during their junior year; and as seniors, Hennon was Behrend’s THON chair and Donovan was a dancer.

“Our whole senior year, we were broken up, but we were still working together. No matter what, we realized that us working toward finding the cure for pediatric cancer was more important than any fight or any awkward moment we could have,” Donovan said. “We always said THON was bigger than both of us, and that actually made us stay friends.”

Shortly after graduating from Behrend, the two got back together.

Regardless of the shared journey that awaits the couple, THON is certain to remain a crucial part of their lives and relationship. They have already planned to include members of their THON family, Rylee and Dalaney Dorer, in their wedding.

“It’s just that important to us,” Hennon said. “It’s amazing now that, every year, I get to have a constant reminder of how all this came to be.”