Fundraiser Will Support Olympic Development Fund

CHATHAM – The International Olympic Committee reported “unprecedented digital growth” in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. According to Olympics.com, Olympics digital platforms surpassed 100 million users and social media engagement doubled in comparison to Beijing in 2022. The interest in the event can even be seen locally, as a fundraiser hopes to assist athletes developing their talents to compete on the world stage. 

On Thursday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m., the Chatham Orpheum Theater will be hosting “Spirit on Ice: Remembering Their Journey and Carrying Their Legacy Forward.” The event is an evening to benefit the United States Figure Skating National Development Team Legacy Fund. The evening will feature a panel moderated by Olympian Paul Wylie and includes Olympian Nancy Kerrigan, United States 2026 National Junior Men’s Figure Skating champion Patrick Blackwell, United States Skating champions and coaches Mark Mitchell and Peter Johannson, 2002 National Junior Ladies champion Louann Donovan Hogberg, Head Trainer for Active Performance Enhancement for Athletes Jeff Handler, and Doug Lane, father of skater Spencer Lane, who was lost in the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash on January 29, 2025. Event organizer Kim Roderiques said the night will be a showcasing of incredible talent. 

 “I am in awe of these people,” said Roderiques. “They spend 10 years for a minute-and-a-half opportunity to win a medal. The clear passion for their craft is what I want to honor and to educate people in the audience regarding what is required to be at this level of professionalism.”

The National Development Team Legacy Fund was created to honor the 28 members of the skating community that were killed when their plane from Kansas collided with a Black Hawk helicopter. The fund, according to U.S. Figure Skating, “will provide financial support for travel-related expenses for athletes selected to participate in the National Development Team Camp.” The program for the event at the Orpheum will both honor the lives of the people that were lost in that flight while also celebrating the sport through a night of stories from athletes and supporters at the pinnacle of the sport.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Chatham Bars Inn. They will be offering an exclusive opportunity to have dinner before the event with Kerrigan and Wylie. Tickets for the gathering will cost $250 and all proceeds will go to the National Development Team Legacy Fund. Anyone interested in attending can email Roderiques at kimroderiques@comcast.net. 

The moderator for the evening, Wylie, won the silver medal in men’s figure skating in 1992. Participating in the event at the Orpheum is a way to honor members of his community, he said.

 “I had the honor of being present at the national development camp in Wichita following the national championship last year. I took a flight to Colorado from the camp, feeling great about the next generation of skaters, with all of their hopes and dreams,” said Wylie. “Of course, several of the skaters and coaches were on a different flight…I am looking forward to time in conversation devoted to their memory.”

Mitchell, who worked with many of those who were lost in the Flight 5342 crash, explained why championing this fund is a great way to honor the people he knew.

 “The energy at the national development camp is amazing. The athletes and coaches that are invited are having their first experience into the elite level of U.S. Figure Skating,” said Mitchell. “Their excitement and passion are what makes it so special. It is important for me to keep the skaters’ passion alive and pass it on to the next generation of skaters.

 “It is important to me to keep the spirit and memory of these skaters and coaches alive. The coaches were people I had known for many years and were lifelong friends.”

Doug Lane, who lost both his wife and his son in the Flight 5342 crash reflected on their lives and how the legacy fund can help others while honoring those who were lost.

"Christine and Spencer were both uniquely talented people who chased their passions relentlessly. As parents, Christine and I were incredibly grateful that Spencer found both a sport he excelled at and a community he loved in figure skating,” said Lane. “Preventing financial obstacles from being a barrier to other families following the same wonderful path is the best possible way to honor them, and that is what U.S. Figure Skating's National Development Team Legacy Fund does.”

Handler emphasized his appreciation for the amount of work figure skaters put into their craft.

 “Figure skaters are just built differently than other athletes. Physically, there is no rival. Power with grace, speed with precision, strength with a softness that screams, all blended to poetic and artistic perfection,” said Handler. “The paradox is remarkable. Mentally, to state the obvious, you are on your own, no teammates to provide shade. Additionally, the preparation-to-competition ratio is something only a very select few can tolerate. Stay focused through years of practice, only to get one chance at a medal. When it all comes together, there is nothing more majestic to witness in all of sports.”

2026 National Junior Men’s Champion Patrick Blackwell expressed his desire to expand the sport.

 “I want to push the sport forward - do something new, take risks and bring a more daring, fearless style that really connects with the audience,” said Blackwell. “The backflip is part of that - taking something that wasn’t traditionally part of the sport and making it my own. And I think there’s a lot more that can still be explored in the future.”

Annette Blackwell, Patrick’s mother and one of his coaches, noted the growth young athletes go through by reflecting on her journey with her son.

 “Being both his parent and coach is a unique dynamic with clear positives and challenges. As a parent, you truly know your child on a different level - there’s a connection and understanding that goes beyond what a coach would typically see, and that can be incredibly valuable in training,” said Blackwell. “What makes it special, though, is that through all the ups and downs, we’ve built a very strong team dynamic. Over the years, I’ve watched him grow not just as an athlete, but to the point where he can coach himself in many ways.”

There will also be a silent auction at the event. There will be signed posters from the “Legacy on Ice” show, with signatures from Kerrigan, Wylie and many others, signed photos from the 2026 Olympics, a painting from Ginny Nickerson of Chatham, and a piece from Michael’s Custom Jewelry in Chatham, among others. 

General admission tickets cost $50 while tickets to the VIP meet and greet cost $100. All tickets can be purchased on chathamorpheum.org.