During his first semester at Penn State, Ian Fairbairn (senior-general science) decided he would be a part of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

For the fourth year, Fairbairn spent 48 hours on his feet, raising money for Thon.

"It's complete insanity for 48 hours, but the most fun you will ever have in your life," he said during the early hours of Thon.

Fairbairn, who danced in this weekend's marathon for the Association of Residence Hall Students, was just one of the 660 dancers who spent the weekend on their feet.

Friday, 9 p.m.

David Murray (senior-telecommunications), who was dancing for Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave., said he was having the best time of his whole life.

"I really can't describe it in words. I am not going to lie; it's tough," he said. "It really gets hard on Sunday. You start to forget which corner is the bathroom."

During the event, Murray said sometimes it's good to try to get away from it all.

Last year when he danced, he had someone sneak him outside to get a breath of fresh air, he said.

"It's so moving; you could cry just thinking about it. All the effort people put into it, and they don't really have a reason to do it," he said.

To try and help dancers stay awake, Murray said, some of them put their legs in ice for around 15 minutes, which is known to the dancers as the "ice baths."

When the dancers have to use the restroom they are supposed to be escorted, he said, but many times he just went on his own.

"There is always a long line for the bathroom," he said, adding that there is always somebody sitting outside the stalls, for the safety of the dancers.

"Last year, this kid fell asleep on the toilet, so morale had to pound on the stall door and wake him up," Murray said.

Meanwhile, Fairbairn wasn't worried at all about the long haul ahead, he said.

"It puts a good bit of strain on your body, but your friends help you through. It gets to a point where you don't even notice it."

He suggested that dancers drink lots of fluids, change socks often and stand in the ice baths.

"Just walk around, keep active, meet new people," Fairbairn said. "Play games, play with the kids, juggle, make balloon animals."

The dancers were given instructions to change their diet before Thon, but Fairbairn didn't follow them.

"I don't change my diet at all," he said. "I just eat as much as possible whenever they bring out food."

Saturday, 6:30 a.m.

The Thon dancers had been on their feet for nearly 12 hours. Most of them had few complaints except that their feet were sore.

Heath Ochroch (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) and Matt Collins (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management), who were dancing for Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, 403 Locust Lane, said they were enjoying the marathon so far.

"It's awesome. A lot of time you are not sure what time it is, but it's cool," Collins said.

He said not thinking about the time is one strategy dancers use to stay motivated.

Both dancers mentioned the limited number of activities for them to do in Rec Hall.

"So far it's the boredom more than anything," Ochroch said.

Ashlee Migliaccio (senior-marketing)had a personal reason for dancing in this year's Thon.

"I lost a friend when I was 12 to cancer, so this is a way to help out kids with cancer so maybe it won't happen to any more kids," Migliaccio said.

She commented on how great the kids, families and moralers are for supporting the dancers. Migliaccio, who danced for La Vie, said she really wasn't that tired — yet.

"It hasn't really hit. In like four hours I'll hit rock bottom," she said. "Right now, my feet hurt and my throat is sore."

Saturday, 10:30 p.m.

In her 27th hour dancing for Phi Sigma Pi co-ed fraternity, Jessica McCord (sophomore-elementary education) said it had been a rewarding experience so far.

"Although my feet hurt and I am tired, it's good seeing the kids' faces," she said.

She said she decided to dance after meeting her Thon child and helping on the operations committee last year. She had been washing her face and changing her clothes to stay awake, she added.

"Because no matter what time it is, that helps," she said. "I love my moraler, she keeps me awake — that and hanging out with other people."

Bob Fay (sophomore-sociology), who was dancing for Springfield House, said he was glad to help out with a great cause like Thon.

"Dancing so far has been this incredible long and amazing experience where each second is building to a large finale beyond description," he said.

Springfield House is a dorm floor in Simmons Hall that had only two people dancing for Thon last year, but this year Fay said it doubled both its funds raised and its number of dancers.

"Last year, I came and watched my friend and I saw what an amazing contribution they made and I wanted to do that for the Four Diamonds Fund," he said.

When asked what techniques he was using to stay awake, Fay said, "I am not really sure I am using any techniques, just a positive attitude. This is a small sacrifice compared to what the kids have to go through everyday."

Though he had attended Thon in the past, Sean Miller (freshman-political science), who was representing Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, was not prepared for the experience of being a dancer.

"You really can't anticipate all the emotions that go into it," he said. "The kids are here, the families, all to eradicate cancer. It's one amazing experience so far."

He said students should support Thon because it is an important part of Penn State.

"They should see what it's about, because it's what Penn State is about," he said.

Sunday, noon

Dressed up in a Spiderman outfit, Matt Little (senior-journalism) was there to entertain the kids with something different.

On being a dancer, Little said, "There are times where it seems really trying, but when you see the kids and hear the stories you remember what you are doing it for. That's what makes the whole sacrifice worthwhile."

Little was trying to stay awake.

"I have been trying to keep busy with anything possible," he said, "either with the activities they give us or chasing dust balls around on the floor."

Little, who was dancing for Phroth, said he received many tips the week before such as getting exercise, staying away from fatty foods and eating carbohydrates.

"I cut my diet down, and I exercise anyway," he said. "But you can't get around being exhausted and almost hallucinating sometimes."

At the time, he was feeling the effects of being awake for so long.

"A couple of hours ago I was delusional," he said. "I probably feel now about as good as I did when I started this."

He said staying awake for 48 hours is a small price to pay compared to what the children with cancer go through.

"These kids may have cancer the rest of their lives," he said.

Wes Bain (sophomore-English), who was dancing with Little, said the experience was grueling.

"This has been the toughest two days of my life, but the two most rewarding," he said.

Bain said he had been enjoying himself at Thon by taking pictures with the kids, having water gun fights and playing with bubbles.

"It brings back the state of mind in childhood. You catch yourself remembering when you are growing up," he said.

Bain said he enjoyed the baby powder baths, in which dancers can run through the hallway and slide down a mat covered with baby powder. At the end of the slide, they pat you down and massage you.

"It's a break from just standing around," he said.

He said he experienced some pain from being on his feet for so long.

"Mostly it's just the wear on your feet," he said. "You can't really prepare for 48 hours on your feet unless you do this for a living. The pain is gone in a couple of days and you will look back on all the fun you had."

Being a dancer involves many emotions, said Tara Schmidlen (senior-biobehavioral health).

"It's an incredible roller coaster. There are times when you want to be out of here for a while," she said. "There are all these different emotions, but you talk to your (Four Diamonds) family and you see all the emotions they went through."

For Schmidlen, who danced for Lion Support, her favorite part of Thon was talking to friends and having visitors.

"Talking to people is the best. It's like a time warp when you are talking to them," she said. "And when your friends come, someone from the outside world is visiting you."

Happy with her Thon experience, Schmidlen hopes the marathon keeps growing.

"I hope it continues until there is a cure," Schmidlen said. "I hope it gets bigger and bigger until we don't need it anymore."