Family

A Night at the Champ Camp Silver Sneaker Benefit Ball

By Ryan Hurd · Published Sep 25, 2026

A few years ago I rode along with my sister to drop Izabel off for her very first Champ Camp. She's been back every single year since -- an avid camper through and through. So when my sister was gifted tickets to this year's Silver Sneaker Benefit Ball but already had other plans, there wasn't really a question of who'd step in. Alycia and I took Izabel ourselves. This year's ball was held at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, Indiana -- a genuinely beautiful venue for it, and worth every bit of the setting for a night like this. I also couldn't resist picking up a pair of silver, light-up sneakers for myself ahead of time -- a nod to the "Silver Sneaker" in the name. I wore them all night, dance floor or not. It turned into one of the best nights we've had in a while. We met some genuinely great people, the hors d'oeuvres and dinner were excellent, and we even walked away having won a couple of silent auction items. Alycia and I never quite made it out onto the dance floor ourselves, but we spent a good chunk of the night just watching Izabel out there dancing with her friends, having the time of her life. That's really what stuck with me. Having been there for her first drop-off at camp, seeing her years later, completely in her element at a room full of people who've clearly become her extended family, made the whole night hit differently. It's awesome to see how much this camp impacts the lives of the people who attend it, and nights like this make it easy to understand why it's a cause worth supporting. Hoping Alycia and I get the chance to go back next year.