Shortly after 708 dancers sat down for the first time in 46 hours, they stood again to cheer when the 17 members of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon overall committee revealed the total money raised -- $7.49 million.
The record-breaking $7,490,133.87 shattered last year's $6,615,318.04 total by $874,815.83. The money will go to the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps families with the financial burden of pediatric cancer.
The announcement came in front of a packed crowd. For the first time in Thon history, the Bryce Jordan Center was filled to capacity, and doors were closed to visitors, Thon Overall Chairman Mike Hacke said during a post-Thon press conference. About 13,000 seats were filled in the stands and about 2,000 people filled the floor, Hacke said.
After the cheering from the crowd began to quiet and chants of "FTK" died down, Hacke shouted, "Give yourself a round of applause. You did this!"
The total came as a surprise to some because of their concerns about the economy and how it would affect donations to Thon.
"It's absurd. With the economy the way it is, I think people expected it to go down," dancer Alyssa Ruderman (junior-public relations) said. "It just shows everyone's dedication to the cause, and it's absolutely amazing."
Rachel Louie (sophomore-hotel, restaurant, and institutional management) said she was "100 percent speechless" to see such an increase from last year, especially considering the economy.
In a post-Thon press conference, Nate Cecco, public relations overall, credited the increased total to "expanded fundraising efforts" that included Thonvelopes and Thonline, an e-mail version of Thonvelopes.
Hacke said he was most proud of the student organizations that raised the money.
"We went and handed them a roadmap and handed them the keys to the car, and they really embraced it and showed what they can do," Hacke said.
At the press conference, Charles Millard, Four Diamonds Fund co-founder, said what impressed him the most about Thon - besides the money raised - was the fact that a new group of students makes Thon a success every year.
Jamie Nevel (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said this Thon was the best weekend of his life, adding that seeing the total was "phenomenal."
"There are some hard times, but we draw all of our inspirations from the kids," Nevel said.
Although many of the dancers agreed they were hurting by the end of Thon, seeing the total presented on stage made it worth the aches and pains.
Ruderman said though dancing in Thon was draining both mentally and physically, "all of that was overshadowed by the number on that stage."
