This past weekend I spent twenty four hours at an event called Teddi Dance For Love. What is Teddi Dance For Love, you might ask? Teddi Dance for Love is something that is completely unique to St. John Fisher College. The Teddi Dance for Love is a 24 hour dance marathon that benefits Camp Good Days and Special Times, an organization for children and their families dealing with cancer and other life challenges.
This past weekend was the thirty-fourth year St. John Fisher College has hosted the Teddi Dance for Love, but being a freshmen here at St. John Fisher College, it was my first year participating.
So many people have come up and asked me how I was able to manage staying awake, and dancing, for twenty four hours straight. Every time I'm asked, I just sit there and think, and honestly? There isn't a single answer I can give you. There are SO many reasons as to how and why I was able to pull off this seemingly un-achievable task.
Teddi taught me so many lessons in such a short period of time. Who knew that twenty-four hours could change who you were as a person.
Here's a list of twenty four things I learned in twenty four hours:
1. You can find inspiration everywhere.
2. A hug can help with almost any problem.
3. Joy can be found in the littlest of things (like snacks, or water).
4. Energy drinks are a lie.
5. So are caffeine pills.
6. Screaming break-up songs at the top of your lungs is a good replacement for therapy.
7. After dancing for a few hours, everyone is a bad dancer.
8. Giving is better than receiving.
9. Donating your hair isn't scary, it's rewarding.
10. Children with cancer are incredibly optimistic.
11. Balloons launched into the sky really can make it to heaven, if you believe they can.
12. Goals can be achieved and surpassed.
13. Everyone loves a good throw back song.
14. You can never stop making new friends.
15. You can never apply too much deodorant (Dancing makes me sweat, okay?).
16. Children's camp songs are the best songs.
17. People will go CRAZY for a male acapella performance.
18. You don't know what tired is until you've stayed awake over twenty-four hours.
19. Little kids love sugar (cupcakes, cookies, cotton candy, you name it).
20. Most little kids can dance better than you.
21. Sitting down, even for five minutes, feels guilty when you're staying awake for such an amazing cause.
22. People who have lost their lives to cancer should be celebrated, not mourned over.
23. One person really can make a difference.
24. You don't know your limits until you have the courage to test them.
Teddi 34 ended up raising $54,043.60 beating our goal of $50,000. Not only did we raise that much money, we also ended up receiving over 1600 inches of hair donated through the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign.
The money raised will be used to send a group of children touched by cancer to experience the magical places of Walt Disney World, Orlando studios, and much more in Orlando, Florida.
Those twenty four hours are something that I will never forget. I made new friends, further developed my relationships with existing friends, and got to know some of the bravest children in my local area.
I was able to test my limits and find out how much my body could take.
I was able to make a difference.
I'm sad that #Teddi34 is over but there is a bright side to this situation. Teddi 35 is only 381 days away. In 381 short days, while the rest of the world is sleeping, we will be making dreams come true.
"Won't forget, can't regret, what I did for love"
