Community Corner

Romeoville Teen Seeking Support to Turn Her Olympic Dream Golden

Lukancic Middle School student Paige Rydberg won a bronze medal in the U.S. Figure Skating Sectionals in Lansing, Mich., and next week compete in the national championships in Boston.

A Romeoville Lukancic Middle School student is headed to the 2014 USA National Figure Skating Championships in January in Boston.

Paige Rydberg, 13, qualified for a trip out east by capturing the bronze medal at the Midwest Sectionals in Lansing, Mich., last weekend. She has come a long way since she first started figure skating five years ago.

And her friends and family are working to help her raise funds to fulfill her ultimate dream: Gaining a berth in the 2018 Olympics.

"My dream is to go to the 2018 Olympics and be part of the U.S. figure skating team," Rydberg said in a letter on her gofundme.com page.

She explains her need for assistance this way:

"I have an incredible coach, Mary Alice Antensteiner; she has taken me from a beginner skater to where I am today and she is totally dedicated to my success. I know together we can accomplish my goals. We need your sponsorship support to help offset some of the costs involved in skates, blades, travel, on ice and off ice training."

Rydberg's goal is to raise $2,000. So, far, she has received donations of $375 on gofundme.com, including a $250 gift from Allison Schumacher that included a personal note.

"Next year when you come to Skate Detroit, you can come practice at my club, Riverside Skating Club in Windsor," Schumacher said. "Our summer camp has ice 4-6 hours every day."



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