Gate City FSC steps up


to fi ght cancer The Gate City Figure Skating Club raised $12,000 to fi ght cancer at its Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer event. Despite an April 1 snowstorm, people braved the weather to make the event at Conway Arena in Nashua, New Hampshire, a resounding success.


Edmunds receives Miele Award


Judy Edmunds, a longtime judge, offi cial and proponent of National Theatre on Ice, is the 16th recipient of the LeeAnn Miele Spirit of Skating Award.


The Spirit of Skating Award was created in 2002 to honor the memory of Miele, an international synchronized skating judge who helped to popularize synchronized skating in the United States. It’s given to an individual who contributes to all levels of the sport, has a willingness to judge tests and competitions, and works with judges, skaters, parents and coaches in the best interest of fi gure skating.


Edmunds and Miele judged together for years and often roomed together at events.


“When it comes to judging, Judy’s priority has always been what’s best for skaters,” her nomination letter read. “This mindset has driven her during her 36 years as a judge. Her graciousness and genuine concern have imbued skaters, parents, and fellow judges and offi cials throughout her career.”


A member of the Yarmouth Ice Club, Ed- munds has achieved the judging level of national referee for synchronized skating and Theatre on Ice. Her imprint is especially felt in National Theatre on Ice and State Games of America.


As National Theater on Ice (TOI) chair for 10 years, Edmunds has been instrumental in developing TOI in the United States and has brought it to an international level (Nations’ Cup). Her devotion and tireless eff orts at countless meetings have shaped the adoption of rules and guidelines. She is also responsible for conducting schools, seminars and exams for the education, as well as the promotion, of U.S. judges up to the international level.


Edmunds committed a great deal of time and eff ort to develop standards and rules for the State Games of America. This included rules for all states and the assignment of state chairs. She brought in well-known skaters such as Todd Eldredge and Surya Bonaly to exhibit. The State Games became a successful program, attracting many more skaters and is today a prominent event.


Throughout the years, Edmunds has been chief referee at countless competitions. She has also encouraged and written guidelines to establish referees in synchronized skating and TOI. Through her encouragement and training, she has promoted sectional syn- chronized referees and national TOI referees.


Sponsored by the skating club and sup- ported by Conway Arena and the Main Dunstable School, the skate-a-thon and corresponding public skate for charity raised nearly $9,000 for the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, and a bake sale, raffl es and silent auction produced an additional $3,000 for a local family battling cancer.


Skaters participated by registering, raising money and skating in the Frozen 5K portion of the fundraiser. The top fi ve fundraisers (Jenna CaraDonna, Eleanor Quarles, Allison Clark, Gracie Dortona and Emily Frederick- son) were honored on the ice and invited to perform a program during the Sk8 to Elimin8 event. Additional Frozen 5K participants were Jackie Knight, Sarah Bourbeau, Morgan Read, Kiley McNeil, Julia Fellows, Emily Langley, Caeli Bench, Madelyn Hallisey, Isabelle Hal- lisey, Emily Fauteux, Sarah Mosher, Annette Schlunk, Paige Rowan, and Isabella DiVernieri.


After skate-a-thon participants skated a


Frozen


5K (30 laps around the rink), the general public took the ice, con- tributing $25 per family to the foundation. The Main Dunstable School was well-rep- resented, with many families turning out to support their classmate Dylan KIein, who has been fi ghting cancer since he was 9 years old.


In addition to skating, there were more than 30 raffl e baskets, each with a diff erent theme, and a silent auction featured Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins tickets in addi- tion to other choice items. Nashua North High School Honor Society members volun- teered and ran games and face painting. The event was organized by the Gate City FSC Board, with assistance from the club’s Junior Activities Committee, Candace Sullivan from Conway Arena and volunteers from the Main Dunstable School.


Conway Arena has also pledged to donate the admissions from its annual spring show on June 3 to the cause. “Live – Love – Skate” is the theme of the show, which will feature a spotlight on top fundraiser CaraDonna, who raised $905 for the foundation through her personal fundraising page.


Read more about the foundation at scottcares.org.


Gate City FSC members display their certifi cates for completing 30 laps (3.1 miles) during the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer event.


A parent’s top 10


As I sat in an ice rink, my mind started to wander, and I started to contemplate some of the humor of being a fi gure skating parent. Taking a page from comedian David Letterman, here’s my top 10 list.


10. You have spent hours mulling over what song to skate to.


9. Your shoes have holes in them, but your child has new boots and blades.


8. You haven’t gone on a vacation since your child started private lessons.


7. You bought Rosetta Stone to understand your coaches.


6. You know how to pronounce the word Salchow.


5. You can diff erentiate a pancake spin from a camel spin and a scratch spin.


4. You know how disgusting hockey players smell. 3. You never get to sleep in on a weekend.


2. You have the local skate shop’s phone number in your favorites.


1. Your winter jacket is always at the front of your closet.


— Russell S. Newman SKATING 53


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