Not many girls have the courage to walk around campus bald, but Jenna Larson did just that after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma during her freshman year at Penn State.

"I wasn't comfortable being 18 and bald," Larson (junior-business law and hotel, restaurant and institutional management) said. "Thon weekend was the first time I felt completely comfortable going bald in public."

After her diagnosis, she stayed at University Park for the fall semester but transferred to Penn State Harrisburg in the spring to receive treatment.

That year, Larson became involved with the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon for the first time -- as a Four Diamonds child.

"It was during the middle of my treatment, and I was kind of in a slump," Larson said. "Being at Thon and feeling all that energy brought me out of my slump."

When Larson returned to University Park the following fall, she became involved with Thon as a family relations captain, a position she assumed again this year.

"It's really awesome to be able to see both sides of Thon," Larson said.

Larson has been in remission for six months, and fellow family relations captain Katie Austin has been in remission from another form of cancer for six years.

Austin (sophomore-nutritional sciences) was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in June 1999 as an 11-year-old. She underwent treatment, including chemotherapy and minor surgeries, for two-and-a-half years.

"Thon was and still is like a holiday for me," said Austin, who first participated in Thon in 2000. "I look forward to it the whole year. When it's over, I start counting down the days until next year."

Austin said being a family relations captain made her realize how much work goes into Thon.

"While the families serve as an inspiration, many people don't realize that the students also serve as an inspiration. They put so much time into saving lives," Austin said.

Austin hit the "five-year mark" last year and is considered cured.

Ashley Akright (junior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) was not a Four Diamonds child, but she lost one close to her. Through time and her own experience, she has found the courage to tell the story.

Akright's brother, Nickolas, was diagnosed with ALL when he was 7 years old. During Nickolas's treatment, the family's insurance company dropped them.

"That's really how the Four Diamonds Fund helped us," Akright said. The Four Diamonds Fund allocates support for families battling pediatric cancer.

Though Nickolas went through chemotherapy and was cured, he developed bipolar disorder -- linked to chemotherapy -- and committed suicide in 2004 at age 19 as a consequence of the disorder.

Since Nickolas's death, Akright's family has continued to participate in Thon events.

She said her fondest memory of Thon was family hour the year after Nickolas died.

"Singing 'Angels Among Us' took on a whole new meaning after Nick passed away," Akright said.

Akright, who is dancing in Thon, came to Penn State because of her Thon experience.

"Since Thon is why I'm here at Penn State, I can't imagine not being involved with it. It's been such a big part of my life for the past 17 years," Akright said. "You truly see what courage, honesty, wisdom and strength are when you look at these children who are battling cancer every day of their lives."

Akright, now on the special events committee, said her favorite part is getting to know the children.

"They're little heroes who can teach us so much more than anything else at Penn State can," she said.