Dave Erb and his son, Damian, enjoyed a Sheetz Shmuffin at the family breakfast this morning. But for the Erb family, Thon has given them something much more precious: It saved Damian's life.

"If it wasn't for the students, my child wouldn't be alive," Dave Erb, of Lancaster, said.

Thon families were treated to a breakfast donated by Sheetz and Krispy Kreme. But the breakfast is just one small aspect of what the Rupp family, of Akron, Pa., has come to love about the Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"Thon is the epitome of these kids," Deanna Rupp said. "It helps them forget about treatment and just have fun."

Her daughter, Felicia Rupp, died October 1998, but the Rupp family keeps coming back.

"Felicia just loved Thon," Deanna said at a table with four of her eight children and her husband, Kevin.

The Erbs have been coming to Thon for eight years now. Over the years, they have seen the event evolve into what it is today.

Dave Erb said the Bryce Jordan Center is a vast improvement from the previous location, Rec Hall.

"I consider this a big win for the kids and for the campus," he said.

The Rose family, of State College, was at the breakfast for their third Thon. Their daughter, Julianne Rose, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease her senior year of high school, three years ago.

"We came to Thon before it even affected us, and now it gives you a whole different perspective," Julianne's mother, Sharon Rose, said.

Julianne, now a sophomore at Penn State, immediately joined Thon her freshman year as a member of the morale committee, Rose said.

The idea of going to the school that is home to Thon isn't unique to Julianne Rose. Damian Erb couldn't help but smile brightly at the idea of one day going to Penn State.