Dancers older than 'Thon make it through

Couple number 274 -- they were different than the 548 other dancers, but they worked toward the same goal.

Their shirts said "Older than Thon," they have 72 years between them, and they would not reveal their respective ages.

Rick Funk, former coordinator for Greek Life, and Steve McAskill, a fourth-year medical student at the University's Hershey Medical Center, were sponsored by the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group.

The men had to raise money just like everyone else, said Tony Lombardo, overall rules and regulations chair for the 1997 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"(The couple) has to go through everything dancers go through, at least as far as I'm concerned," he said.

They lasted the whole way through, ending the weekend with more energy than some of the student dancers.

But the alumni dancers did have their ups and downs.

Friday evening:

McAskill reiterates that the men get no special privileges at the dance marathon -- they have to stay on their feet 48 hours, just like everyone else.

"I'm afraid that 'Big Brother' is watching," he said, referring to the upholding of regulations.

Funk, who has been involved with dance marathon for 10 years, danced for the first time this year.

"It sounds cliché -- it's for all the right reasons," Funk said.

And McAskill said he thinks the couple will make it through the 48 hours with the support of the Four Diamonds Fund families, friends and others.

"(Dancing) started as a figment of our imagination and has now become a harsh reality," he said.

Saturday afternoon:

Although he was pleased with all the support people had shown to him throughout the day, McAskill said, one thing did not turn out at all as he had expected -- the bathroom lines.

"Bathroom breaks are worse than imagined," he said, adding that there is an estimated 25-minute wait before a dancer can even enter the "cubby" serving as the bathroom. "Needless to say, you need to time your trips well."

A great supporter of the two men, complete with her "contagious smile," had been their moraler, Amy Vanderwall, 1995 overall morale chairwoman, McAskill said.

Funk said he was surviving the dancing so far.

"I'm OK," he said. "My legs hurt a little bit, but nothing major."

Saturday evening:

McAskill just changed into a new pair of shoes and put new arch supports in the shoes, so he was feeling pretty good physically, he said.

"I say it's like walking on a Florida beach on hot sand," he said about the feeling in his feet. "You stand still, you're in pain."

Mail call had just been completed and McAskill said he received some mail from a second grade class, including artwork that "only a second grade class can do."

"That's enough to wake anybody up," he said.

As far as if he thinks he can make it until 7 p.m. Sunday, McAskill said he still feels it is a privilege to dance.

"We'll recover by Monday or Tuesday; (the children) continue their battles," he said.

Sunday afternoon:

McAskill divulged that Funk had hallucinated at a previous point during the day. Funk said he thought he saw ants crawling on his feet, but he willed himself to stop thinking that, because he knew there would be no ants in White Building.

Post-dance marathon Sunday:

After all their efforts to collect money from everyone they saw, the two men collaborated to raise $14,531.

And McAskill revealed his plan following his 48-hour stay in a gym.

"I say, 'Show me the bed,' " McAskill said. "Of course, after a little celebrating."