Fundraisers put cancer fight on ice
Javier Garcia-Albea
2/19/2008
Cambridge -- Ice skaters of all ages and skill levels gathered Monday night at the Simoni Memorial Rink in Cambridge to help raise money for a worthy cause and for a chance to win prizes.
The "Skate to Freeze Cancer" was a two-hour skating fundraising drive, to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Marathon Challenge Team, a group of 500 runners with a combined goal of raising $4.5 million for cancer research.
It also gave participants a chance to meet cast members of "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" and vie for the chance to win tickets to see the show. The top 10 fundraisers received free tickets and chance to meet the cast backstage.
Katy Counihan, a member of the marathon team had the original idea for the event. A life-long skater and former member of Disney on Ice, she has been raising money for cancer research by teaching skating lessons for the past year. Through her contacts over at Disney, she brought together the event as a way to involve the local skating community in the fundraising effort.
Lynette Best, a representative from TD Banknorth, where the on-ice version of the popular tween musical is playing this week, was on hand to present Counihan a "Star Dazzle" for putting together the event.
"We were really happy to have this opportunity to help Katy out, drawing on the phenomenon of High School Musical for a good cause," Best said.
Also on hand was 6-year-old Linda Esposito, from the Cheryl Franks Creative Skating Academy who performed in costume to a tune from the High School Musical. Her aunt, Maria Digiovanni, from Belmont, was there and had brought along her skates
"I used to skate with my brothers when we were little,it's still a lot of fun." Digiovanni said.
But many participants said coming out to this event was more than about the fun time on the ice. Having lost her father to cancer, Digiovanni was motivated by the cause behind the event. "My father was treated at Dana Farber," she said, "so we know it's a great cause"
Michell Morss, a nurse from Rockland, was staying off the ice, but had brought her 11-year-old daughter, Kallie, to skate with some fellow skaters from Winterland Skating in Rockland.
"It's a great opportunity for the girls to get together and do something good."
All participants received free rentals and ice time, donated by the Simoni Ice Rink.
Cambridge -- Ice skaters of all ages and skill levels gathered Monday night at the Simoni Memorial Rink in Cambridge to help raise money for a worthy cause and for a chance to win prizes.
The "Skate to Freeze Cancer" was a two-hour skating fundraising drive, to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Marathon Challenge Team, a group of 500 runners with a combined goal of raising $4.5 million for cancer research.
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It also gave participants a chance to meet cast members of "High School Musical: The Ice Tour" and vie for the chance to win tickets to see the show. The top 10 fundraisers received free tickets and chance to meet the cast backstage.
Katy Counihan, a member of the marathon team had the original idea for the event. A life-long skater and former member of Disney on Ice, she has been raising money for cancer research by teaching skating lessons for the past year. Through her contacts over at Disney, she brought together the event as a way to involve the local skating community in the fundraising effort.
 |
Lynette Best, a representative from TD Banknorth, where the on-ice version of the popular tween musical is playing this week, was on hand to present Counihan a "Star Dazzle" for putting together the event.
"We were really happy to have this opportunity to help Katy out, drawing on the phenomenon of High School Musical for a good cause," Best said.
Also on hand was 6-year-old Linda Esposito, from the Cheryl Franks Creative Skating Academy who performed in costume to a tune from the High School Musical. Her aunt, Maria Digiovanni, from Belmont, was there and had brought along her skates
"I used to skate with my brothers when we were little,it's still a lot of fun." Digiovanni said.
But many participants said coming out to this event was more than about the fun time on the ice. Having lost her father to cancer, Digiovanni was motivated by the cause behind the event. "My father was treated at Dana Farber," she said, "so we know it's a great cause"
Michell Morss, a nurse from Rockland, was staying off the ice, but had brought her 11-year-old daughter, Kallie, to skate with some fellow skaters from Winterland Skating in Rockland.
"It's a great opportunity for the girls to get together and do something good."
All participants received free rentals and ice time, donated by the Simoni Ice Rink.
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