Benefit Ice Show - Windsor Connecticut Chamber Of Commerce

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860-688-5165
261 Broad St, Windsor, CT 06095

April, 2008

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Event:

Benefit Ice Show

Date:

April 12th, 2008

Windsor native, four-time national champion figure skater and Olympic hopeful, Parker Pennington, will present a Skate for Life! figure skating show on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at the Newington Arena at 300 Alumni Drive in Newington, Conn. Tickets are on sale now, with all of the proceeds to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

With just 750 seats in the arena, spectators will enjoy a close-up look at prize-winning skaters that they only see on TV, most of whom are actively training for future Olympic games. The event will feature a silent auction and a free after-show reception with the show's stars.

Pennington, 23, is the only skater ever to win National titles at the Juvenile, the Intermediate, the Novice, and the Junior Levels of amateur figure skating. He was the third best skater in the world (ages 19 and under) at the Junior Level in the 2002-2003 season. The Olympic hopeful currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia, where he trains with Audrey Weisiger, who coached Olympians Michael Weiss and Timothy Goebel.

The skater's reason for organizing a special show to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association is very personal. My dad was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy 8 years ago, and I am aware of the wonderful programs the organization provides, explains Parker Pennington. I am producing this show to benefit others who have been affected by the same debilitating disease. It is my hope that one day, there will be a cure.

Pennington is the son of Dr. Larry and Andrea Pennington of Windsor, Conn. Dr. Pennington owns the Windsor Animal Clinic and continues to practice veterinary medicine daily. Parker's younger brother, Colin, also is a champion figure skater who will perform in the show. Parker Pennington has been skating since he was 3-years-old, and spent more than a decade training with coach Carol Heiss-Jenkins in Lakewood, Ohio. During those years, he and his mother and brother, Colin, who has been skating since age 7, lived in Ohio, while his father remained in Windsor at his clinic.

Pennington and many of his fellow figure skaters will perform in the April 12th ice show, including:
Emily Hughes The Great Neck, NY native skated on the Olympic and World Teams in 2006. She is a National Silver and Bronze medalist at the Senior Level. Her biggest inspiration was watching her older sister, Sarah Hughes, capture Olympic gold in Salt Lake City.

Dan Hollander The Senior Men's two-time Bronze medalist placed 10th at the World Championships in 1996, and was a cast member on the Champions on Ice tour for nearly a decade. He is known for his amazing ability to bring comedy and humor to his routines.

Tommy Steenberg The Senior Men's competitor finished in 9th place at this year's National Championships. He has won three Junior Grand Prix competitions and was a Junior World competitor.

Colin Pennington Parker's brother and fellow Windsor native won the National Novice title in the 2002-03 season. Extremely musical, he enjoys the creative side of figure skating.

Also featured will be skaters Ashley Brickman, Sean Rabbitt, Molly Jespersen, Jesse Berman, Rachel Nevares, Marcy Andres, Sebra Yen, Casey Tamanikwa, April Bellas, Taylor Phillips-Brown, Annie Okada, Hannah Schlesinger, and Emily Roesch. In addition, a dozen skaters from Connecticut will perform, including Glastonbury's Jenna Adams, Wallingford's Meghan Kupratis, and North Haven's Christina Perfetto.

We are very grateful to Parker Pennington for volunteering to organize this fundraiser for our organization, says Dan Marquis, District Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Northern Connecticut chapter. This is the kind of community involvement that is so important to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and we appreciate his dedication and everyone who supports this event.

Tickets for the Saturday, April 12 Skate for Life! fundraiser at the Newington Arena include a free after-show reception with the show's stars.
Ticket prices are: $15 for adults; $10 for ages 6-12; and free for ages 5 and under. Group rates are available.
Tickets are on sale now at:
Newington Arena, 300 Alumni Dr. in Newington, (860) 665-7825;
Windsor Animal Clinic, 46 Poquonock Ave. in Windsor, (860) 688-4969;
The Muscular Dystrophy Association at 148 Eastern Blvd. in Glastonbury, (860) 633-4466;
Skaters Landing West Hartford at 1123 New Britain Ave, in West Hartford, (860) 523-4407;
Skaters Landing North Haven at 84 Washington Ave. in North Haven, (203) 234-3923; and
Skaters Landing Greenwich at 242 Mill St. in Greenwich, (203) 542-0555.
For more information about the April 12 event or if people are unable to attend and want to make a donation, contact the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Northern Connecticut chapter at 148 Eastern Blvd. in Glastonbury at (860) 633-4466.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is a voluntary health agency a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans. MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. With more than 200 offices across the country, MDA sponsors 225 hospital-affiliated clinics and supports nearly 400 research projects around the world.