A Richards High School graduate apparently has skated with a heart of gold.
For the past five years, figure skater Jordan Moeller has organized “One Skate at a Time,” a skating event that raises money for a camp for youth with cancer through Children’s Oncology Services Inc., in Chicago.
Moeller’s “One Skate at a Time” benefit will be held this year at 7 p.m. May 14 at Southwest Ice Arena, 5505 127th St., Crestwood.
“This show is an event, where, each year, I can bring the community together to benefit a great cause,” said Moeller, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colo. “It is amazing to see everyone coming together to support these kids.”
Moeller started the event after forming a bond with his freshman algebra teacher Debbie Swanson at Richards High School in Oak Lawn and her niece, Julia Fisher. He eventually used his talents to help send Fisher, now a 21-year-old cancer survivor, to “One Step at a Time,” a camp for children suffering from cancer.
“I’ve met Julia and talked to her about creating the ‘One Skate at a Time’ event, and she was very excited about it,” said Moeller, who graduated in 2014..
Swanson said: “The One Step at a Time camp programs do a wonderful job of bringing services of nurses, doctors and counselors so that the kids can have a full camp experience without limitations of their cancer, and all camp counselors are survivors of pediatric cancer themselves.”
This year’s “One Skate at a Time” benefit will showcase local skaters and big name ones brought together by Moeller. He has gathered 25 skaters, including 28-year-old, two-time national champion Alissa Czisny; junior national champion Courtney Hicks, 21; and Team USA skaters Mariah Bell, 20, and Jimmy Ma, 20.
Moeller, himself, began skating when he was age four at the Oak Lawn Ice Arena. When Moeller was a sophomore in high school, he won the men’s intermediate division national championship sponsored by the U.S. Figure Skating Association.
Since then, he has represented Team USA internationally on several occasions, including at the 2014 World Junior Championships. He also was a 2010 U.S. intermediate champion, 2011 U.S. novice silver medalist, and 2014 U.S. Junior silver medalist.
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Unfortunately, for the first time, Moeller might not be skating at this year’s benefit due to a skating injury he suffered in December, 2015.
“I sustained a fractured fibula and a torn ligament during practice at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument, Colo.,” Moeller said. “It, unfortunately put me out for the rest of the season, but it has given me time to remember why I love skating and I cannot wait to get back to work to train for a run at the Olympic Winter Games in 2018.”
Money will be raised at the event through ticket sales, a silent auction, split the pot and other donations. Last year’s event rose over $11,000, totaling more than $30,000 in four years, with proceeds going to Children’s Oncology Services, Inc., which supports the camp.
“This year, I hope to surpass last year’s total,” Moeller said.
“I think this event is unique in that it started with a young man’s idea to give back to his community,” Swanson said. “Jordan was in high school when he came up with this idea and asked my thoughts about it. That’s truly unique when a high school student thinks of giving back and then follows through with the time and level of commitment that it takes to put this one. It’s been fun to watch this event evolve, and Jordan take full ownership of it.”
Tickets will be available at the night of the event at $20 for adults, $12 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under age six.
Kelly White is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.