Pennington to host Skate For Life
By Jim Horvath
Sports
Published June 24, 2009

Westlake resident and Olympic hopeful Parker Pennington is hoping this Saturday’s Skate For Life will make people more aware of Muscular Dystrophy and help further the search for a cure. (Photo courtesy of Pennington Productions)

Throughout the years, the battle against muscular dystrophy has been waged on several fronts. Most people relate to comedian Jerry Lewis and his now legendary Labor Day telethons as being in the forefront in that battle.

On Saturday, the battle comes to Cuyahoga County.

National champion figure skater Parker Pennington, along with a number of stars from the skating and dancing world, will perform in Skate For Life at 7 p.m. at Strongsville’s Hoover Arena. All benefits of the program will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Pennington, who resides in Westlake, has been hard at work putting together the event. The 2010 Olympic hopeful, despite recent surgery on his right foot, will perform, along with a number of stars fans will easily recognize.

“We want to continue to raise awareness about muscular dystrophy and help find a cure,” said Pennington, who is a native of Connecticut but grew up in Tiffin, Ohio.

“Sometimes people aren’t as aware of this disease, or they get it confused with MS,” said Pennington. “That’s why I decided to start this project. Why couldn’t we do a show here? There are charity shows popping up left and right, but this one is close to the heart.”

Pennington, 24, is the only skater to ever win national titles at the Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice and Junior levels of amateur figure skating. He was the third-best skater in the world in the age 19 and under category at the junior level in the 2002-03 season.

But as he sets his sights on his Olympic dream, Pennington’s focus turns back to his father, Dr. Larry Pennington. The elder Pennington was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy 10 years ago.

“I am aware of the wonderful programs MDA provides,” said 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 said he was inspired by his father, a veterinarian who owns and runs Windsor Animal Clinic in Windsor, Conn.

“He has fought to maintain a normal work load,” said Pennington. “He does a lot of work in his community, like running the annual Dog Walk there. He also heads up the 4-H Club, and does a lot of charity work. He’s an inspiration for a lot of people.”

Pennington came to Westlake to train with former Olympic Champion Carol Heiss-Jenkins. She, along with her husband, Olympic Champion Hayes Jenkins, will be part of a meet-and-greet from 5-6 p.m. prior to the show. The show’s other stars will be there as well.

Local favorite Tonia Kwiatkowski will be one of the performers at Saturday night’s Skate For Life benefit at Strongsville’s Hoover Arena. (Photo courtesy of Pennington Productions)

Coming to Strongsville this Saturday are Alissa Czisny, the 2009 United States Ladies National Champion and a World Team member; local favorite Tonia Kwiatkowski, five-time National medalist and three-time World competitor; and Jennifer Robinson, Olympic competitor, six-time Canadian National Champion and Stars On Ice cast member. Other stars will come from the ranks of both skating and dancing.

There will be Sara Von Gillern, Top 8 fnalist on the Fox television show “So You Think You Can Dance,” along with the show’s Gev Manoukian, a Top 10 finalist. Also performing will be Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, World and Olympic competitors and six-time National Dance medalists; Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein, Junior World, Grand Prix final and National Junior Champions; Madison and Keiffer Hubbell, National Dance medalists and National Junior Champions; Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, two-time National Pairs medalists; Kiri Baga, National Novice Champion; and Pennington’s younger brother Colin, a National Novice Champion.

With Hoover Arena’s capacity at 800, spectators will get an up close and personal view of the award-winning skaters and dancers, according to Pennington.

“Most people only get to see these performers on television,” he said. “Many of them are actively training right now for future Olympic games.

“I did a show like this in Connecticut, and it was pretty successful,” said Pennington. “This show is bigger with the list of performers we have, and I’d like to see it continue to grow. I think a show like this has the potential for a larger audience.

“Being a skater, I’m very detail-oriented,” he said. “I always want things to be perfect. This show is a huge undertaking, and we’re all working hard to make sure we put on the best production possible. I see it getting bigger in the future, but I want to focus on this one right now.”

Along with the meet and greet, there will be a silent auction and an after-show reception. There will be on-ice table seating available, along with a raffle for an autographed boot from skating star Michelle Kwan. There will also be a craft table for the younger fans.

“I think this will be a great opportunity for people to come out and see a variety of performers,” said Pennington. “There will be so many different styles of performances. It should be a great show for the entire family.”

Ticket prices are $18 in advance and $22 at the door. On-ice table seating is available for $80, and that includes admission to the meet and greet and the after show reception. The show is free for ages 2 and under, and corporate seating and sponsorship is available.

Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster; at Hoover Arena, 15381 Royalton Rd. in Strongsville (268-2800); the Skaters’ Edge at both locations, 16211 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland (216-252-3986) and 5648 Mayfield Rd. in Lyndhurst (440-995-3343); and the local MDA office, 7530 Lucerne Dr., Suite 210, in Cleveland (440-816-0916). Fans may also go to Cleveland@mdausa.org. Ticket information for the meet and greet and after show reception is available through the event Web site, www.mdaskateforlife.org.