Hockettes Work on More Than Just Skating During the Off Season

The Hockettes Photo by Lori Nemeth/n-focus photography

(6/14/07) - The Hockettes junior synchronized skating team (Ann Arbor, Mich.) is spending the off-season preparing for something more important than winning – the fight against breast cancer. The U.S. junior champions will participate in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, Oct. 20 in Ann Arbor. The three-to-five mile walk supports the American Cancer Society's mission to fight breast cancer via research, education, advocacy and service programs.

“Our team gets involved in a couple of charitable events every year during training season,” Hockette Madeline Prange said. “It's a fun way to team build and a great way to give back to our local community.”

Hockette Molly Rau agreed.

“This walk against breast cancer is an opportunity for our team to share our strength,” she said. “We all personally know what a group of girls can accomplish!”

The Hockettes have already begun seeking donations.

“I set our initial donation goal fairly low,” Rau said, “because I knew it would be the first of many goals our team would work to accomplish this season. We are already almost halfway there, and we've just begun to get the word out on the walk. we will definitely have to go up to the next step.”

Hockettes coach Erin Donovan is proud of her team's work both on and off the ice.

“The team's participation in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is totally skater-driven; it is something they organize by themselves,” she said.

Assistant coach Alison Reilly added: “The Hockettes have had a long presence in Ann Arbor. We all recognize what it means to be supported by friends and family when we encounter challenges, and the Hockettes appreciate being able to dedicate a team activity to the American Cancer Society's mission.”