A grin of elated determination spread across Levi Baker's rosy cheeks as he high-fived a dancer dusted in baby powder.

Levi, a Four Diamonds child, was taking advantage of his favorite part of Thon weekend — the baby powder slide and the massage of dancers.

Four-year-old Levi dove into the pile of exhausted but still smiling students with the same enthusiasm with which he dives into life.

"He's a fighter," said Levi's mother Sally Baker, 31, whose blue eyes sparkled when she discussed her son.

Levi, with the same bright eyes as his mother, giggled and skipped animatedly around Rec Hall.

He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in July 1999, at 22 months old, and he went into remission one month after his diagnosis.

The almost three years of chemotherapy have not diminished Levi's youthful spirit. He likes to do "general kid stuff . . . run around, be goofy and bug his brother," his mother said.

"He didn't have a clue," she said.

Although Levi loved going to the hospital and clinic to play with toys and see his friends — the doctors — he couldn't comprehend his situation.

Levi's older brother, Landon, now 7 years old, also had a "vague understanding of the whole sick thing," Baker said. It was hard on Landon to be separated from his mother and brother so much, but he had fun with the doctors and nurses at the hospital and clinic.

Baker, who was a single mom at the time of Levi's diagnosis, was shocked and upset about her son's health.

"I have a supportive family, so they helped a lot," she said. With a laugh and glance at her new fiancé, she added, "But it's nice not to be single anymore."

Baker found further support in the Four Diamonds Fund after being introduced to it by social workers and child life specialists.

"They lead you through the process and give you the support you need," Baker said.

It wasn't long before Baker was supporting Four Diamonds herself.

Three weeks ago, she brought to life her 18-month long effort to aid Four Diamonds.

She organized Gettython, a sort of "mini-Thon" held at Gettysburg High School in Gettysburg. Community members and high school students danced for 12 hours, raising more than $10,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund.

Baker anticipates that Gettython will continue to grow with each year.

"People in Gettysburg didn't have any idea about what Thon is," Baker explained. "Now that they realize it's entertainment, staying on your feet and having a good time, (Gettython) will get bigger."

She was given the Four Diamonds Award at last month's Thon kickoff dinner for the contributions she has made to the Four Diamonds organization.

Gettython is modest compared to Penn State's Dance Marathon, which has more than five times the number of dancers.

Levi's family joined Thon in 2000. His family has grown since then.

Baker's fiancé Shawn Abma, 34, is working on a Penn State graduate degree in agricultural education.

"The whole Thon experience is eye opening. I never took advantage of it when I was an undergrad here," he said.

Thon is so important to the Bakers that Levi's father, Chad Baker, and Sally Baker have it written into their custody agreement.

"The first Thon we came to was incredible," she said.

Two years later, the thrill hasn't worn off.

"It's a high," she said. "It's neat to see all these people dancing (for Levi). I don't usually get tired because I'm constantly excited about being here."

Baker's excitement is evident to everyone around her, including the dancers from Delta Sigma fraternity, 508 Locust Lane, and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, which adopted Levi as their Thon child.

"Sally inspires us," said Robert Lynch (senior-administration of justice), a brother of Delta Sigma. "She's motivated, so that motivates us."

Colleen Annesley (senior-premedicine) of Kappa Alpha Theta said Levi holds a special place in her heart.

"Levi is the most adorable," she said. "He's so cheerful. He's a good picture taker because he smiles all the time."

The smiles persisted throughout Thon, especially when Levi's mother mentioned meeting the Nittany Lion, Levi's Penn State Wish program wish.

When Baker asked her son, "Who are you going to meet later who says 'grrrrr'?" Levi coyly responded, "Monster?"

But when she clarified Levi's wish to him, he nodded happily in response.

Meeting the Nittany Lion wasn't the only high point in Levi's weekend.

"I like to play with the punching balloon that you put strings on your hands and punch," Levi said.

Levi's contagious grins seemed to bring joy to the weary dancers who continued to hug him, high-five him and look to him for motivation throughout the 48 hours.