After taking gold, skaters come home with a cause

Teens help to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Despite a busy winter schedule that included a whirlwind of competitions and impressive wins, PalosHeights resident Gia Swanson and her fellow ice skaters managed inMarch to raise $4,000 to help those with cystic fibrosis.

It was a fundraiser close to Swanson’s heart because MayWiza — one of her role models and a big supporter of all things skating — has a 3-year-old grandson with the disease.

“After seeing the hardships that cystic fibrosis can cause and knowing how much she has done for our sport, I wanted to do something to give back to her,” Swanson said.

A skater since age 7, Swanson and other teen competitors qualified to compete for Team USA in December, thenwon the gold medal at the junior level in the Spring Cup on Feb. 17 in Milan, Italy.

Swanson belongs to both Teams Elite Junior Synchronized Skating Team and the Glenwood Figure Skating Club, of which Wiza is the president.

“My favorite part about competing in Milan was knowing that we were not just representing Teams Elite, but that we were representing the United States of America,” said Swanson, who is a sophomore at Shepard High School in Palos Heights. “Something that I will never forget was when the national anthem was played and our flagwas raised.”

Skating has also taught Swanson to “get up.”

“Whether it’s a bad day on the ice, a bad test, or bad competition, you still have to get up learn fromit andmove on,” she said.

Swanson and her fellow organizers held their fundraising eventMarch 8 at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena, only a few weeks after Gia Swanson, right, poses with Victoria Pahl at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena.

returning fromMilan. Participants included 18 groups of skaters, including their team, another synchronized team from the south side and younger skaters. Moneywas raised through admission fees, donation and raffle baskets.

Swanson and several of her skater friends cameto the GlenwoodFigureSkating Board inAugust toask for help in securing “ice” for a future fundraiser. The others who helped organize the fundraiser are Olivia Pasinski (who attends Nazareth Academy), Nicole Nemerson (Glenbrook North) Nicole Metzler (Lemont) and Clare Feldman (homeschooled).

“I think Gia and her young ladies did a beautiful job,” said Wiza. “The foundation was very impressed.”

Debbie Swanson, Gia’s mother and a math teacher at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, said she was proud of her daughter’s skating and desire to help.

“I’ve always felt like I try to tell Gia make sure she gives back to the community or peoplewhohave helped her getwhere she’s at,” said Swanson. “She understands the value of helping others.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.