UNMC and the Skate-a-thon, made for each other

For three years, Colleen and Ted Wuebben held a skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s research at their place, at the ice rink they’d built in the back of their Omaha home.

It was a natural. Their six kids had practically grown up on that rink.

Ted and Colleen Wuebben

It was just what their family did. The Wuebbens skated together, outside, in the night air, under the lights.

A fitting response

And when Colleen was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2005, at the age of 52, it just seemed like they should do something. But what? They looked out, and saw the answer, in that backyard rink.

They put together an all-night skate-a-thon and it was a rousing success.

A quick growth spurt

It wasn’t long before they had to tell people to park up the street. Minivans turned into shuttle buses that took people back and forth. It seemed every time the Wuebbens turned around, there was another new face, a new person eager to take part in their 24-hour skate.

“We found people asleep in our basement,” Ted said.

Their little event grew too big for their backyard and needed to find a new home. But where?

Night skating a must

There are several ice rinks in Omaha but Colleen and Ted were sure about one thing.

“Outside is what we want,” Ted said. “Outside, at night, skating.”

There’s something magical when you skate under those lights, he said.

The twist of fate

In 2008, Colleen’s doctor, John Bertoni, M.D., Ph.D., left his post as chairman of the department of neurology at Creighton University Medical Center to become Parkinson’s Disease Clinic director at UNMC, where a burgeoning neuroscience program has sprung.

In December 2009, a year after Dr. Bertoni came to UNMC, and Colleen came with him, for her care, the UNMC Ice Rink opened. An outside ice rink!

The skate-a-thon had found its new home.

First year a success

Last January, the Wuebbens and the medical center presented the inaugural UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s. Some 2,400 came – 800 skated; $40,000 was raised.

“It’s so much fun,” Ted said.

So much fun to be outside, skating together under the lights.

This year’s UNMC Skate-a-thon is Friday and Saturday at the UNMC Ice Rink. For information, go to unmc.edu/skateathon or phdomaha.org.