Olympic Gold Figure Skater Scott Hamilton Emceed the 2024 Fundraising Event
Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™ Detroit Celebration and Ice Show was another fantastic event this year, bringing out more spectators and raising more money amidst beautiful weather. Though the ice had to be kept cold, viewers enjoyed 50-degree weather under the colorful lights at the Campus Martius Park ice rink. The atmosphere was perfect to enjoy amazing performances and celebrate cancer research through the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.
“Detroit is home to some of the best figure skaters in the profession, and I am always honored when I get to visit,” said Scott Hamilton, cancer survivor, former figure skater, Olympic Gold Medalist, four-time U.S. Champion, four-time World Champion, and founder of the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation. “Over the past six years, skaters in the Greater Detroit area have raised tens of thousands of dollars to support a cancer research center right in the heart of the city. We’re so grateful to continue important efforts toward research and development of new, safer cancer therapies and partnering with Karmanos to make these investigations happen.”
Hamilton emceed this year’s show. A total of 25 performances happened on the ice under illuminating and colorful lights, from the trees to the spotlights, all in front of an active display from The Fountain Detroit. Well over 75 skaters, whether performing solo, in a duet, or with a skating club, raised over $36,000 for the fundraiser, crushing this year’s goal of $30,000.
“The event was magical – there were so many amazing supporters,” said Jeffrey Zonder, M.D., hematologist, leader of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), member of the Hematology Oncology MDT and co-leader of the Molecular Therapeutics (MT) Research Program.
“As clinical scientists, the support from the community brings more breakthrough treatments to Karmanos for patients who need more personalized care or are facing an advanced diagnosis. On a more personal note, I, along with Scott, am a cancer survivor. We understand how important cancer research is for our health. We’re thankful Detroit and all the participating skaters, from the toddlers to the adults, understand that cancer research makes a difference for those they love.”
“In our research at Karmanos, we aim to find less invasive, safer and more targeted therapies to eradicate the many different types of cancer,” said Elisabeth Heath, M.D., FACP, medical oncologist, associate center director of Translational Sciences, leader of the Genitourinary Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), member of the Phase 1 Clinical Trials MDT and the Tumor Biology and Microenvironment Research Program, and the Hartmann Endowed Chair for Prostate Cancer Research at Karmanos.
“Today’s cancer research will give your friends and family a better chance at fighting their disease in the future than the therapies that are standard of care today, so we appreciate the support we are receiving from the community to continue to develop better treatments,” Dr. Heath concluded.
During Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer™, many participants performed to honor someone they loved who had cancer. Some performances were dedicated to a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or skating coach.
Ahead of the ice show that evening, Hamilton visited Karmanos. He met with patients and staff at the Joseph Dresner Family Clinic for Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation and the Wertz Clinical Cancer Center, giving them gifts. He toured the biobank laboratory led by Julie Boerner, Ph.D., director of the Biobanking and Correlative Sciences Core and member of the MT Research Program at Karmanos. Hamilton also met with Karmanos leadership, including Boris Pasche, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, president and CEO; Arnold D'Ambrosio, chief development officer, Karmanos Cancer Foundation; Sarah Bigelow, director, Clinical Trials Office; Linda Filipczak, RN, BSN, MBA, philanthropy officer, Karmanos Cancer Foundation; and Drs. Heath and Zonder.
To learn how you can support cancer research at Karmanos, visit karmanos.org/karmanosfoundation.