For Four Diamonds child Mac Kretz, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor one year ago, the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is about more than raising awareness and funding.
For families like the Kretz, faith has fueled their hope for recovery. They rely on God to get them through these tough times.
And for faith-based Penn State organizations such as the Navigators, Alpha Nu Omega sorority and the Episcopal Campus Ministry, Thon means not only helping others, but also serving God.
The Navigators, a Christian student fellowship that has raised almost $30,000 for Thon this year, adopted its first Four Diamonds family, the Kretz family, this year. The fellowship feels inspired by its faith to support Thon and love the family, said Morgan Ernst, Thon co-chairwoman for the Navigators.
One way the Navigators support the Kretz family is by praying for Mac every day. They pray that the Navigators are good comforters to the family, Mac's body will be restored in due time, he will have more energy and he will be able to enjoy his life as a 13-year-old boy, Ernst said.
"He told us that he's 'never felt so many prayers coming at his family at once,' " said Ernst, speaking of Mac's response to the Navigators' prayers.
Ernst added that Navigators members' own faith and experiences have ignited their spirits to do more for Thon.
"We've experienced God's love, and we want to share his love with others," Ernst (sophomore-nutrition) said. "This is the perfect way to do that because these families need God's love right now."
Ernst added that for its ministry, sponsoring the Kretz family has been nothing short of a blessing.
"We've experienced a lot of growth within the last year through Thon and serving others," Ernst said. "It's all we can do -- to show love to these kids."
Alpha Nu Omega sorority likes to think of its sorority as a ministry with similar motives for participating in Thon, said Ashley Burton, the sorority's secretary and parliamentarian.
"There are many different ways for people to receive Jesus' love and for us to feed them that love," Burton (senior-accounting) said. "Thon is one of those ways."
Until last semester, Alpha Nu Omega only had three members on campus and because of things such as trips abroad, the organization couldn't participate much in Thon this year, Burton said.
"Just because we didn't have a really hands-on approach in terms of fundraising doesn't mean we can't be supportive -- through our presence, our prayers and all," Burton said.
For the student Episcopal Campus Ministry, whose pastor Jim Zmyslo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just this year, Thon hits close to home, Erin Flanagan (junior-nursing) said.
The ministry is concentrating its efforts on helping independent dancers Ben Sarcia (senior-psychology) and Jackie Anderson (senior-journalism) and has helped the couple raise more than one-third of their total funds, Flanagan said.
Sarcia's younger brother is a cancer survivor, and that has inspired him beyond all limitations, he said.
"One of the things I pray for every night before I go to bed is the children of the Four Diamonds Fund," Sarcia said.
