His friends, the dancers and the games are his favorite part of the Dance Marathon.

Jordan Hoffman has been attending the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon for five years now and says his favorite part of Thon is squirt-gun tag.

"Actually, I like to chase the dancers ... they don't chase me, I chase them," Jordan said. "It was funny because one time my dad was talking to one of the other people that was fighting me and I came up behind him and squirted him in the head and then I ran off."

Jordan isn't the only one in his family who enjoys the exhilarating squirt-gun crusades.

Gretchen loves the squirt-gun battles but she doesn't like the people squirting it in her face he said.

"I like playing with [Jordan]," said Gretchen, Jordan's 11-year-old sister.

"My dad and I usually have squirt gun battles."

Diagnosed in 1997, when he was only 4 years old, Jordan's family learned he had acute lymphocytic leukemia.

The Hoffman family learned of Thon during his treatment program at Hershey Medical Center.

"We were made aware of [Thon] by the social worker and then we were contacted actually by a chairperson for the Four Diamonds Fund," said Mark Hoffman, Jordan's father. "The first year, we got involved with TEP [Tau Epsilon Phi] and they have had us come up a number of times."

His parents both agreed that their first experience with Thon was a bit overwhelming.

"I was surprised with how loud it was," said Tessy, Jordan's mother. "I really enjoyed being down on the floor with the dancers and being able to react with them."

Jordan said he doesn't really remember his first time at Thon because he was so young but he likes to dance with the dancers.

"I am happy that [Tau Epsilon Phi and Kappa Gamma Phi] are sponsoring me," Jordan said. "I like the dancers."

The Hoffman's like to stay involved with their dancers as much as possible during Thon, as well as throughout the year.

"I really like to be able to help them out and keep them pumped up the whole weekend," Tessy said. "They really have a heart to reach out to the kids and to help them."

It's a bit overwhelming to see how much the students are doing, Mark said.

Tessy agreed.

"When I went into the bathroom and I heard the girls talking about how they never thought it would hurt so much to brush their teeth and their hair," she said, "I was just really touched and I kind of had tears in my eyes."

Tessy was also moved by the way the dancers interact with the Thon children.

"They just really have a heart to reach out to the kids and help them," Tessy said. "Jordan really enjoys just being with the kids, having them roughhouse him and hang out with him. He also loves the time he gets to spend with the Nittany Lion."

He will walk up to anyone, and no matter whom he meets, they are there with him, Tessy said.

"It's just neat to see them get down on their knees and play with him," she said. "Only at Thon would you see guys wearing stickers all over their shirts and goofy hats. These are things that [the dancers] normally wouldn't do."

With an energetic son like Jordan, there is never a dull moment. "I climb the rafters and I play football sometimes," Jordan said. "Sometimes I play basketball, too."

Tessy and Mark are just as vivacious as their son when cheering on the dancers.

"We have tried to be there for our dancers," Mark said. "So that they have someone to encourage them and motivate them during the weekend."

The Hoffmans try to be on the dance floor as much as possible.

"The Hoffmans are there in the times when no one else is there," said Jenifer Restori (senior-management).

"I know that the smiles on their faces will keep me going for the full 48."

The Hoffmans are trying to find things that will have a lasting meaning on their children's lives.

"We really want them to realize that people are valuable, and when they invest in other people's lives, it has lasting effects on their lives," Tessy said. "The relationships last longer thank just Thon too which is neat to be a part of that.

As a family, the Hoffmans cheer on their dancers as well as keep in touch with past dancers.

"We actually have had three dancers who we have really kept up with and we still keep in contact with them," Tessy said.

While the Hoffmans cheer on their team this year at Thon, Jordan plans on dancing next to his sponsors and playing with the Nittany Lion.