A small blue-and-gray backpack equipped with a flashing red reflector united a group of Thon 2007 runners.

The backpack was carried for 24 hours along a 135-mile trek to deliver its contents -- letters from Four Diamonds families at Penn State's Children's Hospital in Hershey -- to Thon dancers in the Bryce Jordan Center.

At 7:45 p.m. the BJC echoed with applause and cheers as the backpack reached Interfaternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2007 -- the first Thon Express had completed its mission.

Hank Angus, a Four Diamonds father who created Thon Express, stepped up to the microphone still wearing a yellow reflector vest over his Thon Express sweatshirt. He and the other 15 runners had just completed the last mile of the journey.

"We wanted to bring you some letters from some very special people," Angus told the crowd. "Thank you for inspiring us to do this for the kids."

Angus was also joined on stage by his wife, Connie, and their son, Gabe, who was right beside them, laughing and playing with his two sisters, Veronica and Sydney. The Anguses have been a Four Diamonds family since 2004.

Angus said the long, cold journey had definitely been worth every step.

"This is something we dreamed about, and we actually did it," he said. "I had my doubts when the storm dumped all that snow, but the runners did an amazing job."

Pre-run party

Thon Express threw a party for the Four Diamonds families and children on the seventh floor of Hershey Medical Center on Thursday evening. The runners gave patients Thon Express T-shirts and goody bags.

Alex McIntosh, a 13-year-old Leukemia patient, sat in a chair wearing pajama pants, laughing and talking to runners while he inspected a pack of Penn State football cards.

"I think [the run] is going to be really hard for them since it's so cold," he said.

McIntosh said he couldn't imagine dancing for 46 hours like the Thon dancers.

"I can pull an all-nighter, but I have to have Mountain Dew," he said. "I bet the dancers need a lot of caffeine."

Over his second slice of cheese pizza, Alex said he was diagnosed with Leukemia on Nov. 28, 2006, and is on his third round of treatment and has two more to go.

"After that, I'll never be back," he said. "I'll only come to the hospital to visit."

McIntosh has big plans for his future.

"I want to be a surgeon," he said.

After saying goodbye to the patients and placing letters from the families in the backpack, the runners headed down to the lobby area to cheer on the first two runners.

Anne Adams, a Four Diamonds parent, and Barb Lefko took off at 6:05 p.m.

Miles 1 though 45

The rest of the Thon Express runners piled into an RV and two Hummers that had been lent for the run. A third Hummer trailed a few yards behind the runners at all times to protect them from traffic and to be on hand in case of emergency.

After Adams and Lefko ran three miles, they handed the backpack off to the next runner and jumped into the Hummer to get warm.

Since temperatures were so low, the run was broken down so that each runner would run three three-mile legs of the run, instead of two five-mile legs originally planned, Beth Wood, a runner who danced in Thon in 1996, said.

Lefko said during the run, he wasn't too cold, but had to watch his footing.

"It can be pretty treacherous," he told the other runners.

Despite the weather, the mood inside the RV was upbeat as the journey began.

"By the time this is over we will all be best friends," said Jeff Krisciunas, who danced in Thon in 1994 and is president of the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG).

Wendy Flynn, an EMT along for the journey who danced for Thon in 2004 and 2005, gave the runners packets describing the symptoms of hypothermia so they would be able to detect if they were having trouble during the run.

Wood said she was a little scared about the cold, but as long as she wore the right amount of clothes, it wouldn't be an issue.

"The adrenaline will get me through," she said. "The people on the team are amazing, so they will inspire me."

After the runners got out to cheer on their teammates at the first hand-off, the RV carried a group to the Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, where a fundraising event was being held. The DMAIG had set up a raffle to auction off gift certificates and other prizes. Families, friends and supporters gathered in the coffeehouse to mingle with the runners, who were taking a break to enjoy hot beverages and live music. Thon Express raised $600 at the coffee shop.

Around 8:55 a.m. Friday, the group gathered outside to cheer on Connie Angus, as she handed the backpack off to her husband, Hank, at mile 16.

Near Carlisle, snow removal efforts blocked Route 641, diverting the run a few blocks.

The caravan traveled through the night, over the snow-covered roads in central Pennsylvania, passing small towns and homes where some of the runners had grown up.

Miles 46 through 90

One by one everyone completed his or her first three-mile leg of the run, and at 1:30 a.m. the second cycle started. Temperatures bottomed out at 6 degrees.

The RV served as a place for runners to change out of their sweaty clothes, rest and refuel. It also carried the runners' extra clothing, supplies and plenty of donated food.

Inside, the runners exchanged advice, talked about other marathons they had competed in and discussed experiences at Thon and Penn State as they tried to find room to stretch their muscles to prepare for a run or to curl up for a short nap.

Some of the Four Diamonds parents talked about their experiences at Penn State Children's hospital.

Runner Carrie Steele-King remembered that she used to spend hours playing Uno with her son at the hospital after he was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2000.

"It's amazing what you find to pass the time," she said.

Hank said in the first 28 days of treatment, his son was very weak.

"He played video games, because that was all he could really do," he said. "Sometimes we had to help him with the controls."

At 3:22 a.m., the mountains began. The RV began to strain against the steep incline. Hank was the runner who had to endure the 3.1 mile-stretch that ended at the summit of the mountain. Krisciunas joined him for support near the end of the hill.

The runners had cleared the first mountain by 4:35 a.m., and about a half-hour later, Thon Express reached the halfway point -- around mile 67. The next mountain was just around the corner.

Hank climbed back into the RV around 5:35 a.m.

"It was tough," he said. "I was praying the whole time."

Tears gathered in his eyes and in the eyes of the other runners as he spoke.

"I thought about going to the seventh floor of Hershey," he said. He said he thought of his son, but also thought about all the other kids and families as well.

"I thought, I can run up this mountain, and it's going to help someone else, then I'm going to do it," he said.

Hank said he realized most people don't really understand why he wanted to organize the run.

"To me, it's like, 'how can I look at those kids and say I'm not going to do anything?' " he said.

Miles 91 through 135

At 8:08 a.m., the runners had completed the end of the second cycle and were running well ahead of schedule. The sun was out, and the backpack's reflector was still flashing.

Most of the runners on the RV said they were beginning to feel the strain on their muscles but despite the lack of sleep, were feeling good.

At 8:45 a.m., the Thon Express stopped for an hour to eat breakfast at a restaurant in Mt. Union. After enjoying warm meals, they continued on.

At 10:45 a.m., Thon Express passed the 100-mile point, and by 11:20 a.m., the RV had reached Route 26. The sun was out, and the temperatures climbed into the 20s. Some of the runners even began to break sweats.

At 2:50 p.m. came the second and final mountain, about 10 miles out from State College. Amanda Goble's three-mile run was steep and ended at Jo Hays Vista overlooking Penn State. The Bryce Jordan Center was visible in the distance. Krisciunas got out to join her on the last part of the run, and the other runners got out of their vehicles to applaud her effort.

At 3:51 p.m., almost two hours ahead of schedule, the backpack was handed off to Hank for the last three-mile leg of the run. The group of runners and his family were there on the corner of Atherton Street and Park Avenue to greet him as he reached the stopping point at the Nittany Lion Inn at 4:17 p.m.

After a brief break to drop their things off, the runners were back in the lobby of the Nittany Lion Inn at 6:30.

"The run was totally worth it," Wood said. "It was equally as moving as dancing in Thon."

Erin Langley said being a part of something so huge was an honor.

"Thon never ceases to amaze me," she said. "This run is great for alumni to get involved."

After a short meeting and group pictures, the runners put on their white Thon Express T-shirts and gathered to run the last mile of the run as a group.

As the celebration took place at the BJC after the last mile, Hank said he was already looking forward to Thon Express 2008.

"We are definitely doing this again," he said. "Next year will be even more exciting because we can raise even more money."