Dr. Margaret Pfeffer with former Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton during the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer event at Covelli Centre in Youngstown.
Dr. Margaret Pfeffer took up ice skating as an adult after her son decided to play youth hockey. In fact, the whole family learned to skate.
Who would have thought the Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics physician’s interest in skating would lead to sharing a 5,000-seat arena’s ice with former Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton?
“I’m a huge fan, and I was very excited to meet him,” she said of Hamilton. “What he’s been doing with his focus on cancer research has been inspirational. It’s been awesome to work with him, his foundation and to partner with Akron Children’s Hospital with this event.”
Dr. Pfeffer (left)
Dr. Pfeffer, who sees patients in the Akron East primary care office, is the president of the Skating Club of Greater Youngstown, whose members hosted and participated in the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer event at Covelli Centre in Youngstown last week. The event and proceeds benefited the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, the local charity of choice.
Hamilton participated and served as the emcee.
“It’s important that I’m here,” he said about his first ever visit to the Mahoning Valley. “Youngstown reached out and did a remarkable job raising money — $30,000 in total. My goal, through Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer, our national outreach, is to ignite the skating community and change the future of cancer forever.”
The event included a $9,000 check presentation to Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. JoAnn Stock, senior director of development, accepted the check alongside patients who are being treated at Akron Children’s center for childhood cancer and blood disorders.
“Cancer is certainly a disease that touches everybody,” said Dr. Pfeffer, whose father died of cancer. “As a skating club we’re trying to do what we can do to further research and treatment.”
Dr. Pfeffer skated in 3 numbers throughout the show, including the opening routine, a “Beauty and the Beast” number and the show’s finale. Her two daughters also performed.
“I mostly enjoy adult synchronized skating,” she said. “I’ve competed at local events and some national ones, but it’s at a recreational level and just for fun.”
Incredible job by Youngstown, Ohio hosting their first Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer for @TeamScottCARES After a beautifully produced show that raised over $30,000 for cancer research, the skaters enjoyed this cake for their efforts. You can support them at https://t.co/RU7WseyIjG pic.twitter.com/hnjKdOn0Z8
— Scott Hamilton (@ScottHamilton84) April 23, 2018
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