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UNIVERSITY PARK — Second by second, note by note, the anticipation grew. After a year of planning and fundraising, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon was ready. Videos of past Thons, pulsating tunes and a gyrating Nittany Lion on stage pumped up the seated dancers filling the Bryce Jordan Center floor. Then came the chanted countdown, cheers erupting at zero as spotlights swirled around the arena and beach balls cascaded from the ceiling. With that, the biggest party on campus kicked into gear. “Get ready for the best weekend of your life,” said 2009 Thon Chairman Mike Hacke on Friday...

The gift of dance At Penn State's THON, 48 painful hours translated to $4.1 million for children with cancer. By Michael Vitez Inquirer Staff Writer STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - By 1 a.m. yesterday, after 30 hours on her feet - no sitting, no sleeping - Penn State senior Christine Polcino sobbed. She had rubbed her feet with peppermint oil, wrapped ice packs on her knees, taped her ankles like a professional athlete, gulped down three Tylenol. Still, she wept. "Everything hurts," she moaned, "like the hair on my head. My fingernails hurt." Her poor arches had fallen as much as...

Thon dancers get a lift from smiles of young patients By Chris Rosenblum crosenbl@centredailiy.com UNIVERSITY PARK -- As long as children squirted him with cold water and bounced rubber balls off his head, Ted Dougenik could put up with his aching arches. Dougenik, a Penn State sophomore, was one of 711 dancers shuffling, swaying and just trying to stay awake during the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon on Saturday in Rec Hall. But trying to boogie for 48 hours became easier once gleeful children and their families arrived and started mingling. "When the kids came, really, I forgot the...

Posted on Sat, Feb. 21, 2004 CDT/Nabil K. Mark Penn State students Amy Haver, left, and Lauren Dietz dance during the Thon kickoff Friday night. |  R E L A T E D    L I N K S  •  Parking available for those driving to Thon  •  More Thon coverage  •  Thon begins: Children benefit as students danceBy Gwenn Millergmiller3@centredaily.comUNIVERSITY PARK - Fans packed the bleachers, supporting their teams with loud cheering and homemade banners and signs.Cheerleaders roamed the floor, ready to motivate the players. There was even a mascot making its way through the crowd.The 48-hour Penn State...