Third Annual Skate for a Friend: Raising Awareness and Funding for Lupus Research

The Third Annual Skate for a Friend recently took place in Bayonne, New Jersey, with all proceeds from the event being donated to the Lupus Foundation of America and Hospital for Special Surgery.

How did the Skate for a Friend come to be?

Four years ago, Una-Marie Antczak, a member of the Bayonne Figure Skating Club, was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 12. Una-Marie had been very ill before a diagnosis was made. Since that time, she has been treated by Dr. Lehman at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York where she is still receiving chemotherapy to treat the disease. Currently, her disease is "quiet" and Una-Marie leads a very normal life, where she remains very active in raising awareness for lupus, as well as raising money for lupus research.

Una's love for skating and desire to help others inspired her to raise money through skating. And thus, the event was born.

When she's not skating, Una-Marie is a busy young lady. She has been honored with the Bayonne Rotary Award, The Jersey Journal Teen Hero Award, and the Kohl’s Kids Who Care Award. She also took part in launching the purple wristbands with the Lupus Foundation of America that say "Someone You Know Has Lupus."

Thank you for all your efforts, Una-Marie. The LFA hopes your Third Annual Skate for a Friend was a success!


Photo tagline (left to right): Dr. Thomas Lehman, Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Strug, Aiden Gallagher, Una-Marie Antczak