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Local residents to be featured performers in Gliding Stars upcoming show

Fri, Apr 13th 2018 03:25 pm
The Gliding Stars of Western New York will present its 14th annual ice show, "Skating to your Favorite Tunes," at the Northtown Center in Amherst. Fun for the whole family, the show will pay tribute to some of their favorite songs and musical artists.
More than 100 skaters and 200 volunteers will participate in the ice show, which brings together people who have been skating at rinks in Hamburg and Niagara Falls since October.
Featured skater Hailey Wilson has been skating with Gliding Stars for the past five years. Hailey, 13, is diagnosed with Down syndrome and intellectual and learning disabilities. Skating with Gliding Stars has been a great way for her to bond with her dad and sisters (they all participate in the program) as well as improve her balance, coordination and social skills. Hailey's favorite parts about ice skating are making friends and learning, "If I try hard enough, I can do almost anything."
Hailey is a seventh-grader at Niagara-Wheatfield. She's involved in the Special Olympics Swimming Club, The Miracle League and CAPs. Aside from skating, Hailey enjoys listening to pop music, swimming and spending time with family.
Skating with Gliding Stars has allowed Hailey to become closer to her older sister, Hannah, 16, who is also her volunteer partner on the ice. In the upcoming ice show, Hailey and Hannah will perform a duet to Hailey's favorite artist, Michael Jackson.
Also, featured skater Garrett Russell has been skating with Gliding Stars since age 5. Now 30, Russell has progressed from being a skater in the program to a volunteer. Diagnosed with an intellectual disability, skating for many years allowed Russell to participate in a recreational sporting activity while also making friends and developing his social skills. A few years ago, Russell decided he wanted to be a volunteer in the program to help others on the ice. In this season's ice show, Garrett will perform a special duet with Gliding Stars' founder and President Elizabeth O'Donnell.
Russell said, "Gliding Stars feels like a place where I belong. It has given me confidence to help others as a volunteer, and it means so much to me." Off the ice, Garrett works at Wegmans and enjoys hanging out with friends.
The two will join the rest of the stars to perform in "Skating to Your Favorite Tunes" on Friday, April 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 14, at 1 p.m. at the Northtown Center in Amherst, 1615 Amherst Manor Drive.
Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Admission is free for children 4 and under. For more information, call the office at 716-608-8345.

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