UNMC Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s Raises Nearly $16,000

For the second consecutive year, more than 500 skaters turned out for the sixth annual UNMC (www.unmc.edu) Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s. The 24-hour skating 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.

Jenny Knutson, daughter of Ted and Colleen Wuebben and one of the event coordinators, said early estimates show that more than $15,700 in donations was collected at this year’s Skate-a-thon. This included nearly $8,000 collected on site, $2,700 online and a $5,000 donation from the national office of Pacific Life Insurance Company. Additional money was raised through online pledges that have not yet been processed. The six Skate-a-thons at UNMC have netted more than $155,000 in proceeds.

Proceeds go toward clinical and basic science Parkinson’s research at UNMC as well as a foundation started by Colleen Wuebben. The foundation name has now been changed to Parkinson’s Nebraska, and its mission is expanding to include affordable exercise, education and services to improve quality of life for persons with Parkinson’s.

UNMC physicians – John Bertoni, M.D., Ph.D., Amy Hellman, M.D., and Howard Gendelman, M.D. – spoke at the opening ceremonies, while Diego Torres, M.D., spoke at the closing ceremonies.

For more information visit UNMC (www.unmc.edu)