"Lowcountry Dancing with the Stars” Oxygen Ball Raises $335,000 for Lung Health

Last Friday evening at the Charleston Gaillard Center, more than 450 guests joined the American Lung Association for its annual “Lowcountry Dancing with the Stars” Oxygen Ball. The “License to Breathe” themed affair, which featured five local celebrity dancers, raised $335,000 to fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung disease through local programs, advocacy efforts and groundbreaking research.

Trudy Billings, a former information technology executive, was named Charleston Oxygen Ball Celebrity Dancer Champion, raising more than $90,000 through community support and donations. She and her partner, Andrey Gergel, owner of International Ballroom Dance Studios, dazzled the crowd with the paso doble and cha-cha.

What made Billings and Gergel’s performance even more remarkable is the fact that it almost didn’t happen. Billings’ original professional dance partner, Blake Beardsley, experienced an injury the evening before the Oxygen Ball and could not perform. Gergel immediately stepped in, watching video that night to learn the routine Billings and Beardsley developed through months of practice. The day of the big event, Billings and Gergel spent hours practicing and learning to move with each other. The group effort paid off, and it was a winning performance.

It truly takes a village to put on an event of this scale. Along with Billings, the celebrity dancer cast included: Jenny Costa Honeycutt, Esq. of Costa Honeycutt, LLC and vice chair of Charleston County Council; Dean Rommes, owner and president of SNAP Integrations; Tessa Spencer, news anchor at ABC News 4; and Gil Tisdale, interior designer at S. Bogan Designs.

Additionally, local chef Brett McKee was honored by the Lung Association as 2024 Volunteer of the Year. During the live auction, Chef McKee announced that the charity dinner he was donating would be his last ever. He has been involved with the Lung Association since 2011, when he performed at the Oxygen Ball as a celebrity dancer. He has contributed his culinary talents to Lowcountry nonprofits over the years, raising millions of dollars. McKee’s charity dinner was the highest-selling auction item of the night.

“There are so many reasons why the Oxygen Ball has become a beloved Charleston institution: joyful atmosphere, luxe, creative themes and of course, the energy and dedication of our celebrity performers—all brought together for an incredible cause,” said Kat Varn, Oxygen Ball event chair. “Thank you to our dancers, committee, guests and sponsors, who have helped us raise $335,000 to support lung health in our Lowcountry community.”

Funds raised at the Lung Association’s Oxygen Ball supports lifesaving research, local programs and advocacy for the 650,000 South Carolinians living with lung disease, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. For more information or to make a donation, please visit CharlestonOxygenBall.org.

Thank you to all of our sponsors, including Signature Sponsors the Bihun Family Foundation, Germain Dermatology, The InterTech Group and Vertical Bridge Charitable Network, as well as the many other donors and volunteers who are instrumental in furthering the Lung Association’s mission.