Annual auction is extra special for one particular Sea Gal

Tessa Harrington’s involvement with the Sea Gals and their charity auction on Dec. 6 is a way to remember Travis Britt, her high school boyfriend who died of cancer.
By Clare Farnsworth
Seahawks.com
Nov 27, 2010

Tessa Harrington’s charitable work as a member of the Sea Gals isn’t just a labor of love; it’s a way to remember a lost love.

Her involvement with the Seahawks’ dance team began because of Travis Britt, her high school boyfriend who died from a form of bone cancer in 2007 at the age of 19. Her continued commitment – including serving as co-chairperson for the Sea Gals’ 22nd annual charity auction on Dec. 6 – allows Harrington to honor his memory.

“A lot of people love giving back and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, it means a lot,’ ” Harrington said. “But I think being connected with where the money is going it just means so much. Travis is there with me while I’m doing this.”

The charity auction, which benefits Broadview Women’s Shelter and the Sea Gals’ Children’s Hospital Guild, will be held at Fox Sports Grill, 1522 6th Ave. in Seattle. The silent auction that begins at 5:30 includes sports memorabilia, spa packages, weekend getaways and restaurant and hotel certificates that have been solicited by the Sea Gals, and will continue through halftime of the Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots. There also will be a live auction during halftime as well as raffle drawings for prizes throughout the evening.

“One of my favorite things with the Sea Gals is fund raisers,” Harrington said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s totally beneficial.

“And because of Travis, we spent our whole senior year at Children’s Hospital. So it’s very fun to give back, because just going through that we received so much support. So it’s like an honor to have the opportunity to give back.”

Harrington, 23, began dancing at the age of 6 and was a member of her school dance teams in junior high and at Kentridge High School. It was Britt’s stepmother who suggested she try out for the Sea Gals, right out of high school.

“The Seahawks were very active with Travis’ treatment,” she said. “They would visit him at Children’s. And in 2006, his Make-a-Wish (request) was to go to the Super Bowl. He was going even before the Seahawks went, so he looked at one of the players and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to the Super Bowl. I’d really like it if you would go.’ ”

The Seahawks did just that, beating the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game at Qwest Field to advance to the franchise’s first Super Bowl – against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit.

“So we went to a lot of Seahawks’ games that season,” Harrington said. “His stepmom said, ‘Hey, you should try out for the Sea Gals.’ I was like, ‘OK.’ It was just random. I saw an article in the paper about the tryouts and I just showed up.”

She’s still showing up, because of Britt.

“He was very proud of me,” she said. “Travis loved the Seahawks. He was a huge fan. So I think me making the squad is something I do in his honor.”

Harrington credits her enthusiastic outlook on life to watching Britt handle his situation.

“I’d be crying and he’d say, ‘Why are you crying?’ Then he’d make me laugh,” she said. “He just had a great outlook, and I think that’s where I get my outlook in life – from him.”

Harrington’s life includes finishing the program to get her teaching credential at the Des Moines campus of Central Washington University, with her student teaching starting in January and graduation set for June. She also is a part-time nanny, coaches a dance team and works in marketing at Snoqualmie Casino.

But there’s always time for the annual December visit to Children’s Hospital for the Seahawks’ Captain’s Blitz.

“I still see some of the nurses and doctors from Travis’ time there,” she said. “So it’s very special.”