The 2012 UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s, Jan. 27-28, is raising money for Parkinson’s research at UNMC, which is a wonderful thing.
The event also has drawn the city’s attention to the UNMC Ice Rink, which is an added plus.
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From left: Lee Mosley, Ph.D., with Marlene Schneider and Robin Taylor at last year’s Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s. |
“In just two years, the skate-a-thon has grown into a premier campus event that brings the UNMC community together,” said Keith Swarts, director of business services. “The event and UNMC are such natural partners and it has been fun to see how the event has grown and how the campus has rallied behind it.”
A different side of coworkers
“I think it gives the employees an opportunity to kind of mix with other groups and other people on campus in a different way,” said Marlene Schneider of the UNMC Faculty Employee Assistance Program, who volunteered to help with the event and is a candidate to be a bowling ball at the skate-a-thon’s inaugural Human Ice Bowling contest this evening.
And as the event grows, the campus responds accordingly.
Ted Wuebben, who, with his wife, Colleen, came up with the idea for the skate-a-thon, has seen it.
“Have you seen the (organizing) committee?” Wuebben asked. “Most everyone on it is the head of their department.”
An event we believe in
And even more departments are represented in tonight’s ice bowling contest. Folks from all across campus have raised money for Parkinson’s in hopes of being flung down the ice. Why?
“We believe in the cause,” said Paula LeGrande, manager of environmental services, who along with Schneider, is a bowling ball candidate.
We’re cool like that
The skate-a-thon is a great way to see the serious, hardworking people around you in a whole new light, said another bowling ball candidate, Tom O’Connor, senior associate director for media relations in public relations.
“The Skate-a-thon is just an example of why it’s cool to work at UNMC,” O’Connor said.