Star skaters from across the world will join together for a special charity gala to help fund specialist medical treatment for one the sport’s most talented youngsters.
More than 40 skaters will perform at the Olympic-themed event at Basingstoke Ice Arena on Friday, July 6 to raise money for The Simon Waller Fund.
Simon Waller, 25, from Berkshire, was a successful athlete and figure skater from the age of 11. As a top men’s skater he trained in the England and also enjoyed a successful period training and working with future Australian Olympians.
In 2009, he became seriously ill after being diagnosed with multiple auto-immune and autonomic disorders and is now chronically and acutely ill and registered disabled.
Simon now needs urgent medical treatment in the USA to stabilise and begin a treatment regime on his complex, painful interacting conditions.
The Simon Waller Fund was set up in April this year with a target of raising £10,000.
Bernadette Parnell, Chair, The Simon Waller Fund, said: “We’ve had a terrific response to the gala so far. We have a world-class selection of skaters in the show and it promises to be a great evening of entertainment.
“Simon needs all the help we can give so we urge everyone to come down and donate as generously as they can in aid of the Fund. Simon is a wonderful young man and was a great role model to many budding skaters across the country.”
Dancing on Ice star Mark Hanretty will be the guest presenter while Alexandre Hamel, the founder of contemporary skating troop, Le Patin Libre, will perform in the gala as will many more big skating names.
It will also feature a silent auction and raffle with all proceeds going to The Simon Waller Fund.
The event is being supported by Basingstoke Club, the Planet Ice Group, Ice Media Productions and the National Ice Skating Association (NISA). It has been put together and organised by Fiona Zaldua, of the internationally renowned Adagio Pair with partner Dmitry Sukhanov, during their busy performing season among the world’s top skating stars like Evgeny Plushenko and Kurt Browning.
Keith Horton, chief executive of NISA, said: “We are proud to support such a worthwhile cause. Simon was a real talent and an inspiration to the UK skating community. “
“The charity gala is set to be a fantastic event and we would encourage as many people as possible to get involved and help raise money to ensure Simon gets the treatment he so desperately needs.”
Tickets are priced at £15 and £44 for a family of four. A limited number of corporate hospitality packages are also available.
Doors open at 6.30pm and the show runs from 7.30pm to 10.15pm.
For more information about the Simon Waller Fund or to buy tickets visit http://sk8basingstoke.co.uk/simonwaller/ or email teamsimonuk@hotmail.co.uk for group bookings.
