LAKE PLACID – Lake Placid’s 2023 Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ event raised more than $28,800, making it Sk8’s biggest fundraiser so far this year.
The event was held on the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ founder and Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton welcomed skaters and gave an overview of the cancer research funded by the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and then joined them on the ice.
Fifty percent of the event’s net proceeds will go to Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation’s innovative cancer research and fifty percent will go to Adirondack Health’s Merrill Oncology Center Travel Fund, which assists income-eligible oncology patients with travel expenses related to their treatments.
Adirondack Health employees formed several fundraising teams, which were among the 265 participants.
The highest individual donor, Claudia Jacobs, raised $5,001. The top fundraising team was Adirondack Health’s IT/Skating Club of the Adirondacks, which raised $3,905.
Participants raised money by soliciting pledges to skate 13 laps around the Oval.
In addition to Hamilton, speakers included cancer survivors Katherine Oropallo and Melanie Sleime, who also serves as Adirondack Health’s chief human resources officer. Sleime said Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ was a wonderful way for Adirondack Health employees, families and the surrounding communities to help oncology patients get the care they need, when they need it through the Merrill Oncology Center Travel Fund. As a former oncology patient, she empathizes with patients who are helped by this fund.
“Scott Hamilton partnered with us this year to grow the travel fund in such an amazing way,” Sleime said. “When I was receiving treatment, I had 36 daily trips for radiation at 65 miles round trip. Imagine the cost for gas for those eight weeks. These funds take away the anxiety over additional costs for patients and their families. It’s one less thing to worry about.”
The Lake Placid Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ Fundraiser is organized by the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation staff and the Adirondack Health Foundation with the help of many volunteers.
“Compared to similar events in much larger metropolitan areas, Adirondack Health and our community supporters once again punched above our weight in support of national cancer research and assistance for travel expenses for local cancer patients. I couldn’t be any more grateful or proud – thank you,” said Adirondack Health Foundation Executive Director Hannah Hanford.
To learn more about Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ or to donate, visit https://fundraise.scottcares.org/LakePlacid.
