February 16, 2013 at 2:18 PM

Correction appended: Feb. 16, 2013.

This year, members of Acacia fraternity and Gamma Phi Beta sorority are dancing in honor of two of their THON children, Jed Smith and Jazmine Cope, who died of pediatric cancer.

Josh Volpe, member of Acacia, said that for them, THON means family and coming together.

"We're all here together to show our support for our dancers and our THON families," Volpe (sophomore-finance) said.

Asthyn Goodreau, member of Gamma Phi Beta, said that even though she never met the kids who died, getting to know the family and hearing their story has inspired her to keep moving this weekend.

"We might get tired of being in the BJC for 46 hours, but we get to go home," Goodreau (freshman-biology) said. "Imagine the families spending weeks in a hospital."

Tyler Davis, assistant THON chair for Acacia, said that the group is trying to keep everyone in good spirits.

"Some of us are a little emotional, but we are trying to keep the energy up for the dancers and the families," Davis (sophomore-energy business finance) said. 

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated information about the above organizations' THON children. Jed Smith and Jazmine Cope, two former THON children with the organizations, died of pediatric cancer. The organizations currently support the Bree Taylor family and the Paula-Engel Herbert families. The above post reflects the correct information. The Daily Collegian apologizes for this error.