As is tradition, the Teddi Committee will honor a special camper during the dance-a-thon. This year they will recognize Amanda Conrow, who passed away from cancer at the tender age of six in February 2015. Conrow’s courageous fight was chronicled by several local media outlets, including a long-form profile by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Conrow attended the brain tumor family retreat for two years on camp grounds, and her four siblings, Michael, Samantha, Jessica, and Emily, are campers. During the dance, she will be remembered with a balloon launch after a brief dedication ceremony on Saturday evening. Her parents, Paul and Liz, attended the brunch to accept the dedication.
In his remarks, Paul Conrow described Amanda as “one of the most joyful, giggly, silly people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.”
At its heart, he said that the efforts of Camp and the Teddi Dance are about “smiles for smiles,” noting that because of Camp, Amanda was able to maintain those smiles throughout her treatment.
“We do these events to raise money, so that children like my daughter Amanda can have as normal and happy a go of it as possible,” he said. “People like Gary step up to the plate, and guarantee that smiles are carried over to children who are going through cancer, and that’s a tough mission. Thanks to Gary, the College, and everyone connected with the dance, because the smiles we’re advocating for are the toughest to create, but you all are making it happen.”
