$40,000 raised at skate-a-thon

About $40,000 was raised at the 2011 UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s, which was held Friday and Saturday at the UNMC ice rink.

Skate-a-thon View photos from this weekend’s skate-a-thon.

About 800 people skated at the event, which was a 24-hour fundraiser to support Parkinson’s research and care. About 2,400 people attended the event and 150 volunteers helped make the skate-a-thon a success in its first year at UNMC.

For the past three years, it was held in the flooded backyard of Colleen and Ted Wuebben. Colleen Wuebben has Parkinson’s and is a patient of UNMC’s John Bertoni, M.D., Ph.D.

“The turnout and support was amazing and the event was an absolute blast,” Colleen Wuebben said. “We thank UNMC for all its help and support this year and we can’t wait until next year!”

The skate-a-thon fundraising record was about $10,000.

Proceeds will support:

• Clinical Parkinson’s research by Dr. Bertoni and basic science Parkinson’s research UNMC’s Howard Gendelman, M.D.;
  
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; and
  
• The PHD Program (Parkinson’s Health Development), a local program that offers affordable exercises and activities to improve the quality of life for persons with Parkinson’s.

The event featured a full slate of activities include an on-ice reenactment of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” a “Shiver Skate” in which participants skated 10 laps in minimal clothing, skate games and several figure skating exhibitions.