The ice rink at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha is a busy place, for a good cause, this weekend. For 24 hours, skaters will take to the ice to raise money for Parkinson’s disease. Ted and Colleen Wuebben found the Skate-a-thon after Colleen was diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 52. For several years they flooded their own back yard and held a skate-a-thon to raise money for Parkinson’s awareness.
Colleen Weubben says living with Parkinson’s is a balancing act and compares it to skiing. She stated one has to be very attentive to shift weight properly and go with the flow. She says one never knows from one minute to the next if they will be able to walk easily or movement will be coordinated.
Last year the event moved to the UNMC ice rink and the larger scale event raised $40,000 for research. Hundreds of skaters are taking part this year and they hope to raise $100.000. The public is invited to come and skate or take part in a number of other events including horse and carriage rides and autographs with both former and current Husker football players.
