Between working out at the gym, eliminating caffeine from his diet and getting lots of sleep, it's clear Michael Wanchak is training for some kind of marathon.

But road rules don't apply; Mr. Wancheck, a Thomas Jefferson High School graduate, is getting ready for THON, Penn State University's annual 46-hour dancefest to raise money for cancer charities.

Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport will send four students to dance and another group of around 45 to lend moral support at the State College campus' Bryce Jordan Center tomorrow.

"Dancers don't have to dance all 46 hours, they just have to keep standing on their feet," said Erin O'Malley, Greater Allegheny's student activities coordinator.

Mr. Wancheck, a junior who will partner with Erica Sanchez of Los Angeles, is no stranger to THON. He participated last year as a "moraler," one of the literally screaming throngs whose job it is to keep the dancers awake and stepping lively.

"There's about 45 of us, but only two are on the floor at a time," said Miss O'Malley. "We share the 46 hours, play games, do a lot of massages, there's a lot of hugging and tears."

Student Dion Harris, of Turtle Creek, is co-chairing the event with Ashley Kowalski, of Newport News, Va.

Miss Kowalski and Pittsburgh's India Gaston are a dance team that will represent Greater Allegheny.

The Penn State THON has been going strong since 1973. Last year's event raised $5.2 million for the Four Diamonds Fund, which helps kids with cancer and their families.

Many of the families also attend THON, where the dancing is interspersed with games and challenges.

More than 700 students from all of the Penn State campuses will be represented tomorrow when the dancing kicks off. Contestants are grouped by four colleges, just to add fun and yet another layer of fund-raising.

"We have color wars; everyone is wearing red, blue orange or green," said Mr. Wancheck. "Then we have challenges [by color] that earn more points toward our final [fundraising] goals.

"It's just another thing we all look forward to."

Dancers will want to take at least a few pairs of socks, and it's important, said Mr. Wancheck, to wear shoes that are neither new nor too worn.

His high-ankle basketball shoes, of course, are red.

The dancers are also well-fed, with tables of high-carb foods available. And if there's a need for a bathroom break, well, nobody is setting the stopwatch.

"If you've got to go, you've got to go," said Miss O'Malley.

Last year, PSU Greater Allegheny raised $10,600 through THON, plus coin collections, or "canning," and other community events.

In the big picture, Penn State students are hoping to pass last year's record-breaking total of $5.2 million, which is believed to establish PSU as one of the world's largest student-run philanthropies.

For his part, Mr. Wancheck is hoping to stay on his feet this weekend. He said it isn't hard, if it's for a good cause.

"We're just dancing for kids with cancer. Those kids have it hard, they have to deal with pain their whole lives."