Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave., and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority have had a nine-year reign as winners of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Last year, they took home the crown again for raising $257,999.81 -- the most money raised by a greek organization at Thon.

Tracy Kannry, Zeta Tau Alpha Thon chair, said the main motivation behind raising money is the organizations' two Four Diamonds children, Robbie Schweitzer and Tucker Haas.

"We have seen how horrible cancer really is," she said. "The most important thing to us is that Robby, Tucker and the rest of the Four Diamond children stay happy and healthy."

In the past, the organizations have received corporate donations.

"This year we don't have a large corporate donation, just a few small family businesses giving a small sum of money," said Malik Rollins, president of Alpha Tau Omega.

Kannry said the corporate sponsors usually gave about $500. He said that although corporate money is helpful, most of the money is raised through the groups' own fund-raising efforts.

Paul Cronin, Thon finance chair, said a long-time rumor that Pepsi supported certain fraternities is false.

"They are key to the success of Dance Marathon but are in no way associated with a particular fundraising organization," he said.

Alpha Tau Omega Thon Chair Justin Romano said members of his fraternity and members of their paired sorority also solicit by phone and send letters to alumni of both organizations.

"Aside from canning on the four weekends ... we have a number of weekends devoted to pledge booking," Romano said. "We also send letters to our friends and family members explaining to them the event and how it helps people."

Kannry said pledge booking, a fundraising technique where members ask people to pledge a donation, helps raise a lot of money because the group is allowed to go door-to-door in local neighborhoods.

Romano said the key to raising the most money is staying out and going to as many houses as possible.

"As far as specific techniques, we have always been advocates of going early and staying late," he said. "After all, the next car that stops could give you a $20 bill, or the next house you go to could give you a $100 pledge."

Romano said there is pressure at times because of the standard set by the people who have worked so hard in the past for his organization.

"At the same time though, you realize that everyone works hard, and all you can do is your best every year," he said. "Whether we raise the most or not, we will still be helping the Four Diamonds families."

Members of Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha hope to come in first place this year, but they said they never consider themselves winners.

"I think it is important to remind people that there aren't any winners, and there won't be until there is a cure for this disease," Romano said. "Knowing that we've worked so hard gives Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Tau Alpha an incredible amount of satisfaction and seeing both of our children healthy will be the ultimate reward."