Penn State Dance Marathon Raises $10.68 M

Officials say the annual Penn State dance marathon has raised a record $10.68 million to benefit pediatric cancer patients, an event held for the first time without late coach Joe Paterno.

The total shattered last year’s record $9.5 million for the 46-hour event. It was announced Sunday afternoon to more than 700 dancers who began to tango and twist on Friday night to raise money for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.

Paterno, who was 85, died last month, less than three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The Centre Daily Times says Paterno’s son, Jay, told the crowd that Penn State students should be known for their leadership in the annual charity event rather than for the abuse scandal that has engulfed the school.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)