Teams sought for UNMC Skate-a-Thon for Parkinson’s

Blades, the Omaha Lancers mascot, gives a young skater a lift at last year’s Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s.

Organizers of the 2014 UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s, to be held Jan. 10-11 at the UNMC Ice Rink, are adding a new wrinkle (rink-le?) and tossing out a challenge to the UNMC community.

Skaters are encouraged to form teams to participate nonstop throughout the 24-hour event.

The event runs from noon Jan. 10 to noon Jan. 11, raising money for Parkinson’s research at UNMC. The challenge to the teams would be to keep at least one person on the ice throughout the 24-hour period. The team that is on the ice for 24 hours and raises the most money will win a $200 gift certificate to Mama’s Pizza.

The rules for forming a team for the Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s are:

• Teams can be made up of as many people as needed. However, someone from the team must be on the ice at all times during the 24-hour period.
• Each team member pays the $10 registration fee (click here to register). Please enter your team name when registering.
• Teams are encouraged (but not required) to come up with a creative uniform/costume/etc.
• Teams must register by Jan. 5 to be eligible for prizes.
• Teams can encourage non-skaters to donate online.

Want to form a team but can’t commit to 24 hours? No problem! You just won’t be eligible for the $200 gift certificate to Mama’s Pizza.

Proceeds go toward:

• Clinical and basic science Parkinson’s research at UNMC; and
• The PHD Program (Parkinson’s Health Development), a non-profit, local program that offers affordable exercises and activities to improve the quality of life for persons with Parkinson’s.

Cost is $10 which includes skate rental and ice access. People can skate as long as they wish.

From 2011 to 2013, the skate-a-thons at UNMC netted more than $110,000 for Parkinson’s research and programming.