The Glenview Blades synchronized skating teams kick off their 2011-2012 season with a Skate-A-Thon fundraiser on Friday, November, 11, 2011 from 4:40-5:40 p.m. at the Glenview Ice Center, 1851 Landwehr Rd., Glenview. This year the teams will also be donating a portion of the money they raise to the Northfield Township Food Pantry.

The Glenview Ice Center fields two synchronized skating teams organized by age and skill level. The Mini Blades is a Youth Formation Team made up of 16 girls whose youngest member is seven years-old. The Junior Blades is a Senior Youth Skating Team of 16 girls. During the Skate-A-Thon the teams will perform their competitive programs and participate in skill and team-building games. The public is invited to come and watch the skaters in action at this free event.

The annual Skate-A-Thon is the Blades’ biggest fundraiser of the year and helps to offset the cost of competitions, travel and equipment throughout the season. Each skater has pledged to raise a minimum of $100 and donate 10% of the proceeds to the Northfield Township Food Pantry. A continuous two-mile stretch of skating during the Skate-A-Thon will be dedicated to the Food Pantry. For more information about this organization visit http://www.northfield.il.us/Pantry.htm. Last year’s event brought in over $15,000 benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

“The Skate-A-Thon provides a great opportunity for families, friends and neighbors near and far to support the Blades, an organization that teaches our girls so many wonderful values, including sportsmanship, teamwork and the value of hard work,” said Glenview Ice Center Figure Skating Director Dorie Cascio. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraising skaters.

The Blades are coached by three alumnae of the Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks synchronized skating team: Kristy Lohre, Maria Scianna and Tracy Blomquist. This year Marcia Rohrer joins the coaching staff and previously skated on the Crystallettes team in Dearborn, Michigan. Kristy Lohre is the Synchronized Skating Coordinator and has led many of her teams to National Ice Skating Institute competitions.

The Glenview Blades open their 2011-2012 competitive season at the Northbrook Sports Complex in Northbrook, Illinois the weekend of December 9 and compete locally throughout the season. The team season culminates with the 2012 Ice Skating Institute’s national championships in St. Louis, Missouri, March 30-31. Both Glenview Blades teams medaled at last year’s 15th annual National Synchronized Skating Championship at The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Illinois. You can also see the Blades perform their routines at the Glenview Ice Center Holiday figure skating exhibition, December 16 from 5-8 p.m.