Record Turnout Among Highlights of UNMC’s 7th Annual Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s

A record total of 640 skaters participated in the seventh annual UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s, the 24-hour skating event held annually at the UNMC Ice Rink. This marked the third consecutive year the event has topped 500 skaters, and the first time it has exceeded the 600 mark. Six skaters – Chris Rush, Mike Schoch, Ronnie Stark, Eric Winner, Abby and Jim Janicki – skated all 24 hours.

The event is held in memory of event founder Colleen Wuebben, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005 at the age of 52 and died in 2013 at the age of 60. Proceeds go toward clinical and basic science Parkinson’s research at UNMC as well as Parkinson’s Nebraska, an organization started by the Wuebben family to provide affordable exercise, education and services to improve quality of life for persons with Parkinson’s. The final total is projected to reach $15,000, bringing the total net proceeds for the seven skate-a-thons at UNMC to over $170,000.

Major sponsors this year included: Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Masimore, Magnuson, and Associates, P.C., and Heritage Communities. Other sponsors included: Anderson Auto Care, Anderson Food Shops, Lexus of Omaha, Greg and Lisa Daake, Rochester Armored Car, UNICO Group, and O’Malley Consulting.