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Wouldn't it be cool to join the fun for such an important cause!?!
Please read below:
Skate for Hope Benefits Breast Cancer Research
by Lauren Weinstein
© 2005 U.S. Figure Skating
(6/15/05)- It was six years ago that adult skater Carolyn Bongirno discovered she had breast cancer. After chemotherapy and six surgeries, she returned to competitive figure skating. Today, however, Bongirno is busy with another activity – coordinating an ice show through Skate for Hope, a nonprofit organization that she formed in 2003. She decided to create an event that combined several passions: the love of ice and the necessity of raising money and awareness for an important cause that had personally affected her.
On June 25, skaters will gather at the CoreComm Ice Haus at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Skate for Hope event is a premier skating performance that will raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. The second annual show will attempt to exceed its previous fundraising accomplishments of $20,000.
The show not only features local children and adults from the Ohio community but also national and world ranked skaters. Parker and Colin Pennington, Alissa Czisny, Emily Hughes, World pairs champions Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin, and adult skater Jenny Needham-Wall will all headline the performance. The performers participate to create a show that celebrates life, hope and cancer survivors.
In order for the local skaters to take part in the show, they must raise a minimum of $250. Sixty children and four adults (one breast cancer survivor herself) will skate this year. All of the children in attendance write dedications to the survivors and many opt to present one of the survivors in attendance with a pink rose bouquet.
The Skate for Hope event was held for the first time in 2004 and approximately 900 people attended. This year, Bongirno expects close to 1,100 in attendance.
“It is such a fun and special way for the skaters to honor and recognize loved ones in their life that have or are battling breast cancer,” she said.
Skate for Hope's proceeds are split evenly between the Stephanie Speilman Breast Cancer Fund and Ohio Health Cancer Care. Bongirno plans to continue running the performance as an annual event.
“The most magical part about last year's event was giving children in the community an opportunity to recognize and honor the women in their communities that they know and love,” she said.
Skate for Hope has empowered children to learn and discuss the impacts of breast cancer, and the money raised by the show will aid the future of breast cancer research.
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