Battle of the Blades Event Chair and Saugeen Shores Skating Club (SSSC) Coach, Janet Dawson (left), holding Olivia Little, with Chad, Erin and Harper Little, of the Little family and the Liv-A-Little Foundation. Half of the proceeds from SSSC's Battle of the Blades event Friday night went to the Liv-A-Little Foundation and Cystinosis research and awareness.
Hub Staff
The dollars have been tallied and the results are in and on Wednesday afternoon, April 6, the Saugeen Shores Skating Club presented the Liv-A-Little Foundation with a cheque for $7,516.89, 50 percent of the proceeds raised from the total $15,033.78 at the April 1 Battle of the Blades event, held at The Plex in Port Elgin.
“It exceeded our expectations,” said Saugeen Shores Skating Club (SSSC) President, Steve Clarke, who said the event had raised a lot of awareness for the club. “We didn't expect it to come anywhere close to how successful it was,” he said.
He explained that their share of the money will help with registration costs, including ice time, supplies and coaching fees; for which the club often runs a deficit. “This year it will pretty well balance the books,” he said.
“We actually took a hit this year because we lost skaters because some went to hockey, our senior skaters went off to university,” he said. “We're kind of building up our skaters again and I think the Battle of the Blades may have attracted some more skaters.”
Clarke added that there is potential for the SSSC to host a Battle of the Blades event every year. “The [skaters] who did it want to be part of it every year, it's so much fun.” He added that another idea that had been discussed was Fire and Ice, a pairing of firefighters and figure skaters.
BOTB Event Chair and SSSC Coach, Janet Dawson said she'd been surprised by the interest. “When we went in we were hoping for 10 to 12 teams and we got 15 teams,” she said, adding that they had also hoped for attendance of 500 when the number was closer to 1,100. Dawson explained that she was told at the BOTB event that the doors needed to be closed because they were at capacity. “I couldn't believe it but I shouldn't be surprised, this community,” she said.
“I don't think you can do something like that and not want to try again,” said Dawson when asked if there will be another Battle of the Blades. “I can't tell you the number of people who have asked me when do the practices start for next year,” she said.
Erin Little of the Liv-A-Little Foundation was also overwhelmed with the response. “It's more than just the money,” said Little. “It was just nice to see the community appreciate it,” she said adding that she had received a lot of positive feedback on the show from the community.
See also: Capacity crowd for Battle of the Blades, and
Competitors ready for 'not your average day at the rink'
For more information on the Saugeen Shores Skating Club, visit www.saugeenshoresskatingclub.com.
For more information on the Liv-A-Little Foundation, visit www.livalittlefoundation.com.
Saugeen Shores Skating Club members, Liv-A-Little Foundation and Battle of the Blades contestants at a cheque presentation April 6 at the Plex, Port Elgin.
