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Skaters Give Back
By Kori Novak // U.S. Speedskating
December 31, 2007. Kearns, UT. In a season that revolves around giving, World Cup Team Members Trevor Marsicano, Katherine Reutter and Wheels to Ice Team members Erin DiJulio and Kelly Gunther have made a special effort to give back. Along with US Speedskating’s Kori Novak, these athletes have chosen to commit their time on a regular basis to help Sunbrook Hospice, a local Salt Lake City organization.
Hospice is a service designed to aid terminally-ill patients and their families in making the final stages of life as comfortable as possible for the patient while providing compassionate support to the family. As volunteers, Trevor, Katherine, Erin, Kelly and Kori visit patient’s homes, nursing home facilities and/or hospitals and provide respite for caregivers, as well as conversation and support to the patients.
"While many of our athletes give back in various ways to the community, to be a hospice volunteer takes a special kind of person.” said Kori Novak, “You often get close to these patients, but as a volunteer you go in to the situation knowing the patient is not going to get better; it can be difficult. “ “It is one of the most rewarding things I have done, it’s hard, but you really know you are making a difference in someone’s life.” added DiJulio.
To learn more, or volunteer at Sunbrook, call toll free at 800-814-9280 or 801-374-1100. To learn more about, or volunteer for a Hospice in your area, you can go to your local yellow pages or to the National Organization for Hospice and Palliative care at www.nhpco.org. For additional information and support for caregivers you can also go to http://www.strengthforcaring.com/.
For additional information please contact Kori Novak, Director, PR & Media at 801-417-5360 or media@usspeedskating.org
About US Speedskating: US Speedskating is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of Speedskating in the United States. To date, US Speedskating has won a total of 75 Olympic medals, making it the most successful winter sport in the USA.
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