For 48 hours, dancers will be on their feet at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which begins at 7 p.m. today in Rec Hall.

This year is Thon's 30th anniversary, and Thon's overall committee is planning several events for the weekend to entertain dancers and Four Diamonds families.

"It's going to be an amazing weekend because it's our 30th anniversary," said Jayme Rubright, overall Dance Marathon chair. "We're just so excited for Thon 2002."

About seven celebrities said they would appear at Thon, said Patty Hoffmann, Thon's public relations chair.

Of the celebrities, three will be former cast members from MTV's The Real World, Hoffmann said. Hoffmann would not reveal the names of the celebrities planning to attend because she wants their appearances to be a surprise for the dancers.

The entertainment will also include twelve local bands, Rubright said. They will play an eclectic mix of musical styles, Hoffmann said.

Also featured at Thon will be the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Show, which will take place tomorrow afternoon, said Courtney Brown, Thon corporate relations captain.

Twelve children sponsored by the Four Diamonds Fund, which receives most of its funding from Thon, will model clothing in the fashion show. Some of the visiting celebrities and about 30 Penn State students will also model Tommy Hilfiger attire.

The fashion show is relatively new, having occurred once before during Thon 2000, Brown said. A casting call for student models took place yesterday afternoon.

Several other events that have taken place in prior years will still occur, such as the pep rally from Saturday night to Sunday morning, Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann and Rubright highlighted Thon's last four hours, which include family hour, a chance for Four Diamonds families to express their gratitude to the dancers and the organizations that raised money for Thon.

One dancer, Jennifer Early (senior-public relations), said she felt anxious about dancing this weekend.

"I'm really excited and really nervous because I've been a moraler before, and I've seen what the dancers go through," she said.

Moralers are people who volunteer to help keep the dancers at Thon entertained and on their feet for 48 hours.

Hoffmann urged dancers to stay on their feet for the children they are sponsoring.

"A lot of the dancers' feet will hurt, and they will get tired, but when they hold a Four Diamonds child, they will forget all about that," she said.

At the event's finale, the total amount of money raised to benefit children afflicted with pediatric cancer will be announced.

Thon raised about $3.6 million last year, and the event has raised more than $17 million since its first year in operation, according to Thon's Web site (www.thon.psu.edu).