Laura Kasper wandered across the floor of White Building at 10:30 Saturday night in search of her couple. She found them waiting anxiously for her -- as anxious as they could be after standing around for 27½ hours.

The twosome was Stephanie Braver (junior-marketing) and Alan Gries (senior-finance), couple No. 133 in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, and for them the visits from their morale person were invaluable.

Kasper (sophomore-speech communications), like all members of the Morale Committee, was assigned to a couple before the marathon. It was her job to bring Braver and Gries toys, liquids and whatever else they might need during the marathon. Kasper also acted as their escort to heaven -- the changing and massage room.

After finding the weary couple, Kasper led them away from the crowd of dancers and into a room filled with the biting odors of Ben-Gay and sweat. There she poured rubbing alcohol on Gries' feet, massaged them and doused them with baby powder.

"The alcohol cleans their feet -- they've been sweating for so long. It also reduces the temperature," said Kasper, adding that rubbing sweaty, smelly feet didn't really bother her.

Although marathon rules prohibit dancers from sitting, Braver snuck a brief rest beside her partner. She stretched out her bare feet so that Allyson Farber (sophomore-business), another member of the Morale Committee, could help revive them.

"This makes you feel as though you can stand the rest of the night -- it just releases all the tension," Braver said.

Continuing to massage Gries' feet, Kasper smiled and recalled an earlier visit with the two. "I asked them before marathon if they'd want massages. They said 'Oh no, we won't need it, no.' "

But as the hours went on, they said they couldn't live without them.

Gries and Braver met Kasper only two days before the marathon, but already felt indebted to their new helper.

"When she's not around, we look for her," Gries said.

And when Kasper wasn't there in person, they heard from her anyway -- at mail time. Early Sunday morning, dancers received letters and packages sent ahead of time by friends and family. Also, dancers received electronic mail via computer from marathon visitors.

On the dance floor, dancers motivated each other.

A line dance performed periodically during the weekend played a major role in lifting spirits, said Jill Bevevino, chair of the Morale Committee.

"They somehow get up the energy to go through it . . . it wakes everyone up," said Bevevino (junior-business logistics). A carnival, a dating game and a family feud game were among the group activities that kept the dancers motivated, she said.

The five bathroom breaks were also big morale boosters. After rushing through the facilities, the dancers ran down the hallway, slid on large mats covered with baby powder and lay face down while the morale team vigorously massaged their bodies.

Julie Saver (senior-health policy and administration), just finishing a break, lifted herself from the floor and brushed traces of white powder from her face. "It's great to be massaged and the powder makes you feel fresh," she said.

Other dancers had trouble getting up after the massage and sought comfort elsewhere. Leaning over the tables, dancers made their legs available for anyone who would rub them.

Although soothing fingers seemed to be the hot item, dancers did what they could to keep moving and stay awake. Water from spray bottles and squirt guns cooled sweaty faces. Footballs, tennis balls and Frisbees flew across the gym, though they were feeble attempts to conquer boredom and pain.

"My feet hurt the most, if it weren't for them I'd feel fine" said dancer Craig Waldo (sophomore-psychology). He said the pain was bearable as long as he kept moving.

But the biggest motivator for participants was the Four Diamonds cancer patients. Riding on shoulders and squirting water, the children reminded the fatigued dancers why they were there.

"The kids are a huge boost . . . they bring everything into focus, lift everyone's spirits and give the dancers strength," Bevevino said.

In the massage room with her couple, Kasper agreed.

"You're not in it to drop out," she said. "Sure it's a sacrifice, but when you see the kids you know it's worth it."