Post by Admin on Apr 16, 2020 0:51:46 GMT
Olympic and world champions such as Scott Hamilton, Michelle Kwan, Brian Boitano, Kurt Browning, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Evgeni Plushenko have compiled videos as part of the one-hour event called Blades for the Brave. It will be streamed on Bladesforthebrave.org as well as Americares' Facebook and Twitter feeds and its YouTube channel.
Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, four-time world champion and skating icon, eagerly joined when approached by Tara Modlin-Maurizi of Fireworks Sports Marketing, who developed the event.
"If skating is doing something to be a part of making the world a better place, safer place, and getting money and supplies for those who desperately need it, absolutely I will participate in any way," he said. "The health care community is being blasted like we have never seen before and was not prepared for this."
Americares is delivering protective gear and other critically needed supplies for health care workers in COVID-19 hot spots worldwide. In the United States, Americares has delivered masks, gloves and disinfecting supplies to heath facilities in 25 states. The organization also is training health workers in infection prevention and control, mental health and psycho-social support, and disaster preparedness.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of the biggest names in figure skating as we fight to protect front-line health workers from COVID-19," said Americares president and CEO Christine Squires. "Every donation to the Americares Coronavirus Response Fund means we can provide more protective gear and training to keep health workers safe and supported during this unprecedented time."
Footage for the event will include Hamilton rollerblading in video shot by his usual partner on such ventures, his son, Maxx, who plays hockey; Browning displaying the dancing feet that made him a world champion, but on the street with no skates; Paul Wylie and family doing a "Star Wars" routine in their driveway; and Michal Brezina working out, with his newborn baby at his side.
Several previous on-ice performances will be featured, including by Viktor Petrenko, Jeremy Abbott, Yuka Sato and Rohene Ward.
"I am not a huge social media guy with all the savvy," Hamilton noted. "My son manned the camera. I just went out in the back by the pool and grill and then through the kitchen and my desk. Just a goofy thing, but it's something that honors the intent of the program.
"I have been home and not really left the house much since I got back from a trip to Israel. We're practicing social distancing -- the best thing we can do is be part of the solution and that is to stay home. This is devastating, so doing things like Blades for the Brave, they are meant to be doing whatever we can to help those who are trying to help us."
Frontline health workers need our help. Join us April 17 for
Blades for The Brave: Olympic and World Championship figure skaters coming together for COVID-19 relief with Americares.
Jeremy Abbott, Miki Ando, Shizuka Arakawa, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, Brian Boitano, Michal Březina, Jason Brown, Kurt Browning, Alexei Bychenko, Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc, Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Amber Glenn, Gracie Gold, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan, Naomi Lang, Tara Lipinski, Vakhtang Murvanidze, Viktor Petrenko, Matteo Rizzo, Yuka Sato, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim, Elvis Stojko, Fumie Suguri, Bradie Tennell, Rohene Ward, Johnny Weir, Paul Wylie, Alexei Yagudin and the Ice Theatre of New York** will join the “Blades for the Brave” livestream at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PT on Friday, April 17, benefiting Americares COVID-19 response.
The one-hour show, hosted by Jason Brown and Gracie Gold, will air LIVE on Bladesforthebrave.org and Americares Facebook and Twitter feeds and YouTube channel.
Learn more about this special event.
Viewers can support Americares COVID-19 response by making a donation or by texting “BRAVE” to 80100 to make a $25 donation.
**Note: All skaters are confirmed to participate as of April 5, 2020.
Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, four-time world champion and skating icon, eagerly joined when approached by Tara Modlin-Maurizi of Fireworks Sports Marketing, who developed the event.
"If skating is doing something to be a part of making the world a better place, safer place, and getting money and supplies for those who desperately need it, absolutely I will participate in any way," he said. "The health care community is being blasted like we have never seen before and was not prepared for this."
Americares is delivering protective gear and other critically needed supplies for health care workers in COVID-19 hot spots worldwide. In the United States, Americares has delivered masks, gloves and disinfecting supplies to heath facilities in 25 states. The organization also is training health workers in infection prevention and control, mental health and psycho-social support, and disaster preparedness.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of the biggest names in figure skating as we fight to protect front-line health workers from COVID-19," said Americares president and CEO Christine Squires. "Every donation to the Americares Coronavirus Response Fund means we can provide more protective gear and training to keep health workers safe and supported during this unprecedented time."
Footage for the event will include Hamilton rollerblading in video shot by his usual partner on such ventures, his son, Maxx, who plays hockey; Browning displaying the dancing feet that made him a world champion, but on the street with no skates; Paul Wylie and family doing a "Star Wars" routine in their driveway; and Michal Brezina working out, with his newborn baby at his side.
Several previous on-ice performances will be featured, including by Viktor Petrenko, Jeremy Abbott, Yuka Sato and Rohene Ward.
"I am not a huge social media guy with all the savvy," Hamilton noted. "My son manned the camera. I just went out in the back by the pool and grill and then through the kitchen and my desk. Just a goofy thing, but it's something that honors the intent of the program.
"I have been home and not really left the house much since I got back from a trip to Israel. We're practicing social distancing -- the best thing we can do is be part of the solution and that is to stay home. This is devastating, so doing things like Blades for the Brave, they are meant to be doing whatever we can to help those who are trying to help us."
Frontline health workers need our help. Join us April 17 for
Blades for The Brave: Olympic and World Championship figure skaters coming together for COVID-19 relief with Americares.
Jeremy Abbott, Miki Ando, Shizuka Arakawa, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, Brian Boitano, Michal Březina, Jason Brown, Kurt Browning, Alexei Bychenko, Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy Leduc, Sasha Cohen, Todd Eldredge, Amber Glenn, Gracie Gold, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan, Naomi Lang, Tara Lipinski, Vakhtang Murvanidze, Viktor Petrenko, Matteo Rizzo, Yuka Sato, Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim, Elvis Stojko, Fumie Suguri, Bradie Tennell, Rohene Ward, Johnny Weir, Paul Wylie, Alexei Yagudin and the Ice Theatre of New York** will join the “Blades for the Brave” livestream at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PT on Friday, April 17, benefiting Americares COVID-19 response.
The one-hour show, hosted by Jason Brown and Gracie Gold, will air LIVE on Bladesforthebrave.org and Americares Facebook and Twitter feeds and YouTube channel.
Learn more about this special event.
Viewers can support Americares COVID-19 response by making a donation or by texting “BRAVE” to 80100 to make a $25 donation.
**Note: All skaters are confirmed to participate as of April 5, 2020.
