Skaters put their blades to ice for firefighters

Their Fire and Ice show will ring with patriotic tunes in a benefit for a Sept. 11 relief fund.

By TERRI D. REEVES

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 10, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Local ice skaters, moved by the Sept. 11 tragedy, will hit the ice Saturday for those who fought the fires.

"I felt so bad, I wanted to honor all those who lost their lives, and the only thing I could think of was to skate," said Courtney Hall, a 12-year-old Dunedin resident who has skated since she was 4.

"Those firefighters are very brave," said Sarah Lefave, 10, of Palm Harbor. "They risked their lives for other people. I would probably be afraid to do that."

But the girls, along with several of their skating peers, weren't afraid to enlist the help and support of their parents and coaches so they could pay special tribute to the heroes.

The result of their efforts will be a two-hour figure skating event called Fire and Ice. The show, which will benefit the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund, will be Saturday at the rink at Countryside Mall.

Petr Barna, a 1992 Olympic bronze medalist who currently coaches at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar, and several local elite skaters will be among the participants.

The show is free. Members of the Clearwater Fire Fighters Local Union 1158 will be around the rink area to collect money from those who wish to donate. In addition, the skaters are donating $500 of the money they have collected from past carwashes and other fundraisers to the relief fund.

"The skaters are working their hearts out, practicing on their programs, just so they can make people smile again," said Maida Laird, coach of 12 of the soloists. "But bring your Kleenex, too, because there are some very moving pieces."

The skaters will perform patriotic programs to songs such as Wind Beneath My Wings, made popular by Bette Midler, and Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. A ladies' drill team, the Crystallites, will be skating to a medley of military marching pieces. Large American flags, donated by Tarpon Springs Middle School, will be flown over the ice by skaters during a group performance.

"The show will allow us to express our feelings through songs and skating," said Lauren Lefave, 12.

Christie Stewart, an 11-year-old Oldsmar resident, said, "I was so sad that all those children lost their parents. I am glad we will be able to do something that will make their lives better again."

If you go

The Fire and Ice show to benefit the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy rink at Countryside Mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N. The event is free.

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