Dance Marathon, more affectionately, known as Thon, has been a part of the Penn State community for thirty years.

Thon raises millions of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps children with cancer and their families with expenses not covered by insurance. That is a noble cause, and everyone affiliated with it should feel great about what they are doing.

Thon also helps in donating to cancer research; so it is looking toward a long-term solution to a problem that afflicts a great number of people around the globe.

The dancers have a huge role to play, as they must persevere and stay awake for two days. Their academic performance may not be at its optimal level right after Thon.

Professors have to be flexible regarding Dance Marathon. Staying awake for over forty-eight hours takes a great deal out of any person, and just attending early morning classes is highly unlikely. Even though letters were written explaining the situation to instructors, the power to aid or hinder the dancers is squarely on the shoulders of professors.

Even though not everyone at University Park is directly connected to Thon, one can still make a positive contribution to it. It is does not have to be monetary; it can be emotional. The dancers have to withstand a lot of pain and fatigue for two days, and receiving cheers and feeding off the energy from onlookers can help them finish their noble goal.

There has been some talk this year about Thon being about agendas and the inflating of egos. Working for Thon is a tremendous job. It is a draining process, whether a person is canning or organizing for a program of this magnitude. The cause is not supposed to be for personal accolades, but raising money to help sick children.

Whether or not agendas exist, one thing is certain -- during the next forty-eight hours, egos are thrown out the door. The event is about the children. Thon, ultimately, has always been about the kids.

Students should come out and support Dance Marathon and put their differences aside, because the program is larger than one person, fraternity, sorority, or club.

It is about aiding children with cancer Who can have a problem with that?