Rodney Soultz, Madison's father, said his daughter was simply in heaven with all of her dancers and new friends, especially the one who was carrying a camera and taking pictures of her.

Thon, especially the games and the line dance, which Madison calls the "lion dance," is one event she looks forward to all year long because she is with the Penn State students whom she considers her best friends.

"At her first Thon, she was really shy," said Madison's mother, Veronica. "Now this is the party of her life. All year long, she talks about it."

Dominic Gallo, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, 417 E. Prospect Ave., which has sponsored the Soultz family for the past three years along with Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, said Madison is a wonderful little girl.

"She is one of the most optimistic 5-year-old girls I have ever met," Gallo said. "She always has a smile on her face and she really puts things into perspective. It is wonderful that we could help such a great little girl."

After finishing a little dance while holding Madison in his arms, Sean Bresnan (junior-finance), another dancer from Pi Kappa Alpha, said Madison is just fun to be with.

"She's amazing," Bresnan said. "With all she has overcome, she just shows so much energy regardless of how she feels."

Diagnosed on Sept. 23, 1996, when she was only 20 months old, Madison has struggled to overcome Leukemia. As her medical care continued until Nov. 11, 1998, a life full of treatment was the only life Madison knew.

Her mother said Madison just believed that everyone received shots and that to explain things to such a young child could sometimes be a little difficult.

"We would tell her that special kids get cancer and that she is just an extra special little girl," Veronica Soultz said.

Throughout Madison's treatment, Four Diamonds provided not only financial support to the family, but put a smile on Madison's face, Veronica Soultz said.

"When Madison was going through her treatment, nothing much was making her happy," she said. "But Four Diamonds provided the social worker and put on picnics and other activities that just put the smile on her face."

Walking around the Rec Hall floor, there was not a time when Madison was not playing with or in the arms of one of her eight dancers.

Madison just had all of her dancers wrapped around her finger, Rodney

Soultz said. No matter what she wanted, be it something to drink or something to eat, her dancers would get it for her.

Rodney Soultz said joking that he is a little bit worried about his 5-year-old daughter since she already has a way of getting boys' attention.

"I guarantee that by the end of the weekend, she will have manipulated every guy here and as a father that is a scary thought," Rodney Soultz said with a smile on his face.

Patty Rifner, Madison's grandmother, also saw the closeness between all of the Four Diamonds' children, including her granddaughter and the dancers.

"Everyone just wants to pick the kids up," said Rifner. "It is just wonderful."

For Rifner, Thon 2000 was her first dance marathon and she was simply in awe of her surroundings.

"I just can't believe how these kids come out and do this for all the sick little kids," Rifner said. "It's moving."

Rifner added Thon has changed her perception of the college-aged population.

"To tell you the truth, I was worried about this generation of kids," Rifner said. "But these kids have changed my mind completely."

Kevin Rothwell (senior-marketing and international business), a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and one of Madison's "boys," said watching Madison during the past three years has been a great experience.

"When we first sponsored her, she was sick," said Rothwell, as he looked down at his little buddy who was playing with the long yellow balloon they had just blown up together. "Now she is healthy and our relationship with the family has just grown so much stronger over the years."