A Funskate for all the family
Event will help fund SPICE trip to America
Families have been invited to get their skates on and join in a Funskate in Slough to help raise money for an international ice hockey tournament.
SPICE (Special People on Ice) is an organisation helping people with special needs to learn ice skating.
It practises every Sunday morning at Slough Ice Arena.
Next month, the group is sending two teams to the Special Hockey International tournament in Boston, America where 20 ice hockey teams – including from Canada and the USA – will compete.
SPICE will be the only team flying the flag for the UK, but ahead of the trip it still needs to raise almost
£20,000 to cover costs.
Speaking about the Funskate fundraiser, SPICE secretary Jo Hodgson said: “It’s going to be a great three hours.
“It’s very cheap and it’ll be fun for all the family as well as a chance to try out something you might not have tried before.
“All our members will be there and of course, if you do know how to skate you’re also welcome to come down for some skating. The more the merrier.”
At the Funskate, skaters will have the opportunity to enjoy three hours on the ice as well as the option of taking part in a raffle and a bake sale.
All funds raised from the event will go towards helping fund the trip to America.
Around £12,000 is needed to pay for internal travel costs like coach travel, and an additional £5,000 for costs involved in the tournament itself.
SPICE is taking 20 young people, between the ages of 11 to 30, living with conditions such as autism and microcephaly.
“It’s just amazing – whatever their ability they all skate,” said Jo.
“As far as the ice hockey’s concerned, they learn to be part of a team – which isn’t as easy if you are on the autistic spectrum.
“You learn how to communicate and people often find self-worth because it’s not something most people can do. I can’t do it.”
In addition to the 20 people heading to America, SPICE supports around 65 members.
Jo said: “Our youngest is about five and we’ve got a three-year-old on the waiting list and just about to start, our oldest is about 40.
“Some of them have been with us since we started and of course you can’t kick someone out.
“On Sunday mornings we have almost 100 people [including volunteers] on the ice.”
The Funskate takes place from 10am till 1pm on Sunday (March 24) at Slough Ice Arena.
Tickets cost £10 per person or £30 for a family of four, plus a booking fee.
To find out more and to book a ticket visit: https://tinyurl.com/25zn24yj