THON 2013 Breaks Record, Inspires Community

It's not always easy to say thank you, but inside the Bryce Jordan Center Sunday, giving thanks is what it's all about.

"My granddaughter wouldn't be here if not for those kids," Loretta Smith said. "To give up, not just 46 hours, months, months of their time for all of us, how do you explain that in words? You just can't."

This is the Smith family's 13th year at THON, but Loretta Smith says each year, it just keeps getting better.

"She got better and we were here and we've been here ever since. this is our home," Smith said.

In the final hours Sunday, THON families reflect on their journey's to fight pediatric cancer, and the students continue to dance.

"Exhausted, but it's all for a good cause. That's really who we are. We are Penn State," Penn State sophomore Lauren Tecce said.

Despite the long hours of dancing and tired feet, dancers in THON 2013 say the moment of the final reveal is all worth it. 

$12,374,034.46. A new record for THON, and one Smith says she can't believe.

"The first year we were here, I think was a little over two million dollars and that just, I was flabbergasted to see 10 million more this year? Again, I can't even find the words," she said.

For most of the dancers at THON, this weekend marks the end of months of hard work, but for others, it's just one step in a much longer journey.

"It means one thing," Penn State senior Scott Lattimer said. "Just keep getting bigger. Just got to keep raising the bar each year. Don't settle for anything less."