Dancing days
Dancers' temporary pain eases children's chronic burden

Beach balls, yo-yo's and dazed looks of recognition from the eyes of exhausted dancers. Crying from somewhere on the floor, emotional embraces, music floating above the din -- behind the pounding feeling of 1,080 feet, talcumed and tired, moving for 48 hours to stop something seemingly unbeatable.

White Building comes alive at 7 p.m. with the sounds of music and madness during the 1995 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, benefitting the Four Diamonds Fund.

The dance marathon -- the largest student-run philanthropy in the country -- raised more than $1 million last year for children with cancer, through the efforts of thousands of people in the Penn State community.

Everyone should stop by the dance marathon this weekend and offer some encouragement to the couples who will be on their feet for two days straight. Make sure to compliment the morale committee and everyone else for helping. Just by stopping by, people can show a tired friend that his or her efforts are appreciated. It may just be the extra incentive needed to make it through until the last, emotional hour.

People should remember dance marathon isn't about the Greek organizations, the University, or even the dancers. It's about the children. And nothing would mean more to those kids than to see University students packing into White Building to happily announce that they will not have to face cancer alone.

Unfortunately, there are some people involved with the event who are get caught up in raising money for reasons other than philanthropy. Motivation to raise enormous amounts of money sometimes stems from a desire to improve social standing among some fraternity and sorority members. During moments when energy seems to be focused on such means, those involved should think twice and remember the children and families who depend on the philanthropy.

When the final hour draws to a close, and the unbearable tension and pain of two days comes to a head -- the outpouring of love, support and relief might make a difference. And a child burdened with a disease no one that young should even have to comphrehend will know others care.