They Did It Again: More than 80,000 Reasons to Smile
The fieldhouse was adorned with mini surfboards aligned with a Surf’s Up theme, a balloon arch, a stage displaying vintage Teddi event t-shirts, notes to loved ones who are fighting or have lost their battle to cancer on the walls, and hundreds of dedicated pairs of feet belonging to Fisher students who did it all for love.
The 44th Annual Teddi Dance for Love did not disappoint, drawing a large pool of students who stayed throughout the 24 hours to dance for campers and families of Camp Good Days, most of whom they will never meet. Teddi 44 Chair Victoria Howard ’26 and Vice Chair Brad Coleman ’27 led a committee of over 100 members strong throughout the year to plan this annual beloved Fisher tradition.
The event kicked off on Friday, Feb. 6 with an opening ceremony and the Blessing of the Feet by Deacon Jonathan Schott, followed by an energetic session of Jazzercise to get the dancers all warmed up. Themed hours continued throughout the night and on Saturday, Feb. 7, the event featured a mechanical surfboard competition, a beach volleyball game, a busy alumni hour, and a live performance by local band Almost There, featuring drummer Phil Yawman, Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. Camp Good Days campers and families arrived at 4 p.m., giving student participants a second wind. In the end, the event raised $80,865 in support of the Teddi Project, which sends a group of children on a week-long trip to amusement parks in Orlando, Florida. Since its inception in 1982, the event has raised more than $2 million.
This year, the dance was dedicated to Lucas Lowe, who passed away last March at the age of 21. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was seven years old and found Camp Good Days. With the frigid temperature, the event traded its usual balloon launch over the football field and instead did a bubble release inside of the fieldhouse, a neat twist that added new meaning and a beautiful silent moment to this year’s dedication.
“Two of the greatest gifts you can give are your love and your time. Thank you for keeping Teddi’s memory alive and for all you to for our campers every year,” said Gary Mervis, founder of Camp Good Days and father of Teddi Mervis, the inspiration behind Camp, as he addressed the dancers.
