Skate for Joy

By: Brittany Lyon
Posted In: News

It’s day one. Feet are sized, skates are assigned, and skates are secured. Helmets are fastened as little ones are hobbling their way to the ice rink. “I think I’m going to break both ankles,” says the four -year old who is petrified of the ice. The children whose ages range from four to 12 begin to tap their little skates on the ice to make sure it’s safe. They enter the ice and begin their first day with Skate for Joy.

Skate for Joy is a non-profit organization founded by Carolyn Drumm that provides skating skills to inner city youth. The program was started in Providence and now for the first time is being brought to Newport. St. George’s School is offering up ice time every Tuesday for an hour for the organization and Salve Regina University students are teaming up to organize a fundraiser and help create a marketing plan.

While in Newport Skate for Joy is working with children from The Martin Luther King Center, Child and Family Services and the Thompson Middle School. The program is designed to build self -esteem and self- confidence for these children. McDonald, a director at St. George’s hockey rink, explains that “learning to skate is one of the hardest skills, which is part of the programs success.” Going through the difficult process and conquering it builds self -confidence. McDonald also explains that kids who play sports often do well in school since they aren’t afraid to take risks.

Drumm explains that hockey and skating is one of the most expense activities. With skates and sticks costing hundreds of dollars each, many children will be unable to have the opportunity to experience the joy of skating. When learning to skate the children and broken down into four groups based on age and skill level. Each group has their own teacher, many of whom are either college hockey players or sports coaches. These teachers become mentor for these children. Drumm explains that she loves having college students come in “because the children respond so well to them.” McDonald’s son Matt who is 13 volunteered his time to be an instructor.

Now in the third week of the program McDonald is touched by the children’s improvement and excitement for the program. She recently received a phone call from Child and Family Services who expressed their gratitude for having their child be a part of the program. Child and Family Services said that the children look forward to Tuesday and come back happier than she has ever seen them.

As the hour was coming to a close children are skating up to Drumm, grabbing her hand and saying “look at what I learned today.” McDonald, who is a former hockey player, said that when the kids first came in “they were hopping up and down on their skates, but as soon as they realize the sliding motion, it the biggest moment in their skating career.”

With both ankles still in tacked the petrified four -year -old now skates alone. Giggles and shouts of “bend your knees” fills the St. George’s rink as girls propel themselves in circles and kids are skating back and forth with instructors cheering them on.

In November their annual Skate-a-thon fundraiser will take place. With this money Drumm is hoping to expand the Newport section of the program into the spring. She explains that getting donor has been difficult since it’s a program you have to see to really understand it. Although getting money can be difficult, for Drumm the most challenging part of the program is getting the kids equipment on.

Watching the program was one of the most inspirational things I have seen in a long time. After a week of complaining over midterms, this quickly put me back into perspective. After pushing through the rink’s double doors I had an urge to get on the ice with the kids and skate, but after all I may break both my ankles.