ATLANTIC CITY - Two Ocean City teenagers are joining forces with the Make A Wish Foundation to help grant a wish to children with life threatening diseases in New Jersey.
Ocean City residents Katee Blizzard and Kasey Beatty hosted the 4th annual Skate for Wishes at the Flyers Skate Zone in Atlantic City Saturday afternoon.
The event allowed South Jersey residents to skate at the Flyers Skate Zone with $5 from each person's $15 admission fee going toward the Make A Wish Foundation.
"All the money stays in New Jersey, 85 cents on the dollar raised goes directly to Make a Wish kids, and the rest of the money goes directly toward Make a Wish itself," said Katee Blizzard, Co-Coordinator of Skate for Wishes.
"It's a chance for them to have fun and also contribute to the cause and make someone's dream come true," said Kasey Beatty, Co-Coordinator of Skate for Wishes.
For more than 30 years the Make a Wish Foundation has granted more than 141,000 wishes for children with life threatening diseases.
Blizzard started the Skate for Wishes event in Atlantic City 4 years ago. Blizzard said she has been skating for 13 years and felt pairing her love for skating with the Make A Wish Foundation was a great opportunity.
"The kids that are sick in the hospital with life threatening medical conditions," said Blizzard, "Make A Wish goes out and grants a wish for them whether it be a trip to Disney World or to meet a Celebrity, its just something their family can look forward to instead of having to worry so much about hospital visits."
This past year as a freshman at the University of Central Florida, Blizzard expanded the Skate for Wishes event to her campus to raise money for sick children in the Florida.
Now Beatty, who is involved in the program for the first time this year, said she is looking forward to bringing Skate for Wishes to her campus at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Jesse Kurtz, the General Manager at Flyers Skate Zone, said he is proud of what Blizzard has accomplished hosting the event each year.
"You can tell that its growing roots in the community because each year we get a stronger response from the community," said Kurtz. "More people are donating gifts and coming out to support this great cause."
Blizzard and Beatty said they are hoping to raise $3,000 from Saturday's event.
Ocean City residents Katee Blizzard and Kasey Beatty hosted the 4th annual Skate for Wishes at the Flyers Skate Zone in Atlantic City Saturday afternoon.
The event allowed South Jersey residents to skate at the Flyers Skate Zone with $5 from each person's $15 admission fee going toward the Make A Wish Foundation.
"All the money stays in New Jersey, 85 cents on the dollar raised goes directly to Make a Wish kids, and the rest of the money goes directly toward Make a Wish itself," said Katee Blizzard, Co-Coordinator of Skate for Wishes.
"It's a chance for them to have fun and also contribute to the cause and make someone's dream come true," said Kasey Beatty, Co-Coordinator of Skate for Wishes.
For more than 30 years the Make a Wish Foundation has granted more than 141,000 wishes for children with life threatening diseases.
Blizzard started the Skate for Wishes event in Atlantic City 4 years ago. Blizzard said she has been skating for 13 years and felt pairing her love for skating with the Make A Wish Foundation was a great opportunity.
"The kids that are sick in the hospital with life threatening medical conditions," said Blizzard, "Make A Wish goes out and grants a wish for them whether it be a trip to Disney World or to meet a Celebrity, its just something their family can look forward to instead of having to worry so much about hospital visits."
This past year as a freshman at the University of Central Florida, Blizzard expanded the Skate for Wishes event to her campus to raise money for sick children in the Florida.
Now Beatty, who is involved in the program for the first time this year, said she is looking forward to bringing Skate for Wishes to her campus at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Jesse Kurtz, the General Manager at Flyers Skate Zone, said he is proud of what Blizzard has accomplished hosting the event each year.
"You can tell that its growing roots in the community because each year we get a stronger response from the community," said Kurtz. "More people are donating gifts and coming out to support this great cause."
Blizzard and Beatty said they are hoping to raise $3,000 from Saturday's event.