Champions Skate For Cancer Cure

The sounds of ABBA, Vanessa Mae, and Phantom of the Opera filled the Bright Hockey Center as champion figure skaters dazzled and twirled at the 39th “An Evening with Champions” performances on Friday and Saturday.

Organized by the Harvard Eliot House Jimmy Fund Committee, the annual event brings together winning figure skaters to raise awareness and funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

This year’s event featured skaters of all ages, from the 7-year-old Annabelle Morozov to 2008 World Junior Champion Adam Rippon to Ludmila and Oleg Protopopov, Olympic gold medalists in 1964 and 1968. Harvard’s Figure Skating Club also skated a short segment.

The event, which has raised over $2.4 million towards pediatric cancer research over the years, is the only charity event of its kind run entirely by students in the country, organizers said.

Host Paul S. Wylie ’90, the 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist who has participated in the event for 24 years, calls it “a uniquely wonderful tradition.”

“This show has literally hosted all the big names out there,” he said, mentioning Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hughes. “Skating has changed; Harvard has changed. Yet every year we find the same passion for philanthropy and art.”

Many skaters said that the charity is the main reason why they participate.

The Protopopovs declared that they will continue to skate “until cancer was defeated.” The pair, after receiving a standing ovation from the audience, performed a short encore.

Wylie called the Russian couple “skating legends.” Even in their 70s, the Protopopovs still skate an average of 16 hours a week. This year’s performance marks their 20th consecutive appearance in the show, as well as their 50th year skating together.

Everyone involved in the event, from the ushers to the light technicians, volunteered.

Eric S. Dong ’11, who was responsible for selling T-shirts and other merchandise, estimated that he gave roughly ten hours of his time.

“It’s not much time on my part, but a night or two from everyone for 39 years can and will save lives,” said Dong.

Audience reaction was highly favorable. Many described the performance as “incredible,” and expressed interest in attending future shows.

“It was my first time seeing anything of this caliber,” declared Gregory D. Brockman ’12.

According to Rafael T. Quintanar ’10, one of the event’s co-chairs, the show did not raise as much money as last year. He cited the economic situation as the main cause.

“Given the circumstances, the show was highly successful,” said Quintanar. “One of our big goals was to raise more student awareness, and we did a good job advertising this year.”

He estimated the number of people attending to be around 2,500.

Other notable performers included The Haydenettes, 17-time National Synchronized Skating Champions; Matt Savoie, the 2006 National Bronze Medalist; and Act I of Boston, three-time International Theatre on Ice Champions.