Bess Atkinson cried through family hour last night as Four Diamonds family members thanked the dancers, committee members, and organizations that participated in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon this weekend.

Atkinson (freshman-psychology), once a Four Diamonds child, danced this weekend to support children with cancer.

Family hour was an emotional experience for most standing on the floor of Rec Hall, especially for Atkinson and Jeanette Schreiber, a Thon family relations captain who the Four Diamonds Fund once sponsored.

"I cried the whole way through," Atkinson said. "It's so emotional."

Schreiber appeared on stage during family hour to tell her previous experiences with cancer and Thon to the crowd present.

When Schreiber first came to Thon as a high school student diagnosed with leukemia, the emotions she felt were overwhelming.

"Tears welled up in my eyes as it dawned on me that this was held to help people like me," she said.

Schreiber never ceases to be amazed by the compassion and generosity of those giving to Thon, she said.

Voice quavering, and eyes tearing, Schreiber ended her speech and hugged Amy Nawrocki, Thon's overall family relations chair.

Sally Baker, the mother of Levi, a Four Diamonds child, spoke and described the emotions she felt her first time attending Thon.

"It was the best feeling I've had in my life," Baker said

Schreiber spent Thon weekend entertaining Four Diamonds families like the Bakers.

As Schreiber spent Saturday afternoon taking a family to the Creamery for a tour and free sundaes, Atkinson spent her time on the dance floor.

Atkinson's ankles were sore during the weekend and by the marathon's end she felt exhausted, she said.

"In the beginning, I danced a lot, which was a big mistake," she said. "Last night, I danced to one or two songs, and today I danced the line dance and that's it."

Atkinson said her experience coming to Thon as a dancer was different from her experience at Thon when she was 11.

"It's very different," she said. "I didn't know they had pep rallies and bands playing in the middle of the night."

The Thon pep rally took place Saturday night and lasted into yesterday morning.

Atkinson said she enjoyed her time dancing, but did not want to dance next year.

"I'm ready to go home and sleep for two days," she said.