Hi there! My name is Emma Meverden, and I am a sophomore student majoring in History. I am currently involved in Terp Thon through the Greek Ambassador program.
While I do not have a personal connection to Children’s National, I do have a familial connection to cancer. During her childhood years, my cousin Jennifer was diagnosed twice with Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a malignant form of cancer that develops from skeletal muscle cells that have failed to fully differentiate. Now, she is fully healthy and happy, married with two children of her own.
When I enrolled at the University of Maryland as a freshman, I knew I wanted to be a part of something bigger. It was during Jenn’s treatments that she stayed at a local Ronald McDonald House (RMH). With this in mind, I was inspired to join my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, whose philanthropy is RMH. Upon joining, I met several sisters who were Planning Team members of Terp Thon. Seeing their passion and joy towards Terp Thon inspired me to fundraise for Dance Marathon–and I loved every second of it. The fact that the Greek community and student organizations as a whole come together to dance, cheer, and support each other every year is beautiful. Additionally, it is wonderful to help a hospital that has strong ties to RMH, reinforcing my bonds with my sorority’s philanthropy while creating new bonds with Children’s National Hospital.
To me, Terp Thon is the best example of the phrase “one good deed inspires another.” Through my involvement in Terp Thon, I have formed more meaningful friendships and connections with people I have never met before. Most touching of all is the opportunity to fundraise for and dance with our Miracle Kids. Being able to do all of this and more has become one of my favorite college memories that I know will last a lifetime.