In a crowded and busy hallway at Rec Hall, it seemed Chelsea Dalton greeted every other person that walked by with an enthusiastic hug or high five.

With a large, warm smile, light brown curls and the innocence of face only childhood can provide, it was no big surprise that the petite 7-and-a-half-year-old girl was so popular during the dance marathon.

When she was not greeting someone, Chelsea was playing with her sister Megan, offering a piggyback ride to the 17-month-old.

Because of her apparent never-ending store of energy and laughter, it can be hard to imagine that Chelsea had cancer a less than one year ago.

Diagnosed in May 1998 when she was only 5 years old, Chelsea's family learned she had acute lymphocytic leukemia.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare," said John Dalton, Chelsea's father.

Chelsea soon began chemotherapy treatment, losing her hair but not her optimism. "She never once was down," John Dalton said. "This for her was just an inconvenience."

Chelsea's cancer went into remission last July.

She will be declared cancer free if she goes five years without a reoccurrence of the illness in her system.

"She's a little ball of energy," said Terri Sproul (junior-mathematics), a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. "She's the most loving, caring, little girl ever."

Ever since her last chemotherapy treatment, Chelsea has been much more active, readily declaring her love for soccer, basketball, swimming, horses and being a Brownie in the Girl Scouts organization.

The second grader also enjoys her school. "They call me the math wizard," she said.

Chelsea's bout with cancer started out as a recurring fever that the Dalton's family doctor passed off as a bad virus.

Months later, blood tests at the Hershey Medical Center gave the real cause for Chelsea's sickness.

"It was really, really, really difficult," said Maria Dalton, Chelsea's mother. "One of the hardest things for me was ... one day, Chelsea said to us, 'Mommy, did I get this because I ate too much chocolate?' "

The Four Diamonds Fund soon stepped in, giving the family much needed moral support.

"What really helped was Four Diamonds with the social workers. They took away

the fear for Chelsea," John Dalton said, adding the social workers explained to Chelsea what was happening to her through the use of anatomically correct dolls.

The Daltons soon became involved with the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 200 E. Beaver Ave, and Pi Beta Phi sorority adopted Chelsea.

"The first time we came to Thon, we didn't know what to expect," Maria Dalton said. "And now, it's a part of my life."

After two years with the same fraternity and sorority, both parents expressed their appreciation for the kindness that the members showed Chelsea by coming to her home in Pottsville and taking her out on different excursions, including a trip to a 'NSYNC concert.

Chelsea's fight against cancer motivated not only her fraternity and sorority to raise more money for Thon, but motivated her own family to cope with day-to-day struggles of having a child with the illness.

"It redevelops your whole family values," John Dalton said of the cancer. "The little things don't mean as much."

The birth of Megan also encouraged everyone, especially Chelsea, who had always wanted to be a big sister. Now, she has her chance.

It also gave an increased sense of normalcy to the Daltons.

"She loves being a big sister," John Dalton said.

Now in her third year at Thon, Chelsea was on stage Friday night, helping to teach the line dance to all the dancers on the floor.

Her parents said Chelsea aspires to become a member of Pi Beta Phi at Penn State when she comes to college, dancing at Thon for kids like herself.

"Everyone just is family here at Thon," Maria Dalton said. "I think that what's Thon means to me — family."