Steve's Skate 2022

Steve McNeil has skated for 19 hours and 26 minutes in 11 cities across Canada to raise money for Alzheimer’s. He does these skate marathons as a tribute to his mother, who died of the disease, and for all those family members and friends caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. His mother Eunice was born in 1926 hence the length of the marathons.

This is the 10^th year he has been skating his marathons, however because of Covid-19 he will not be travelling across the country. Instead, he will skate in 10 Ontario regions and towns including Peterborough on February 12th.

Steve will step on the ice at the Lift Lock Skating Trail at 12.01 a.m., February 12th, and skate until 7.26 p.m. He is very happy to chat with and encourage other skaters.

McNeil, 60, is an Etobicoke mailman and recreational hockey referee. An avid music fan McNeil listens to AC/DC when he skates. In Calgary, the son of former band member Chris Slade came to see him on the ice and the next morning AC/DC donated $19,260 to Alzheimer’s in memory of band member Malcolm Young, who died of Alzheimer’s in 2017.

He has skated in pouring rain, a blizzard and in 2019 it was cold: Montreal -29C, Calgary -33C and Edmonton -40C. He says, however, his marathon skates are nothing compared to the time and effort caregivers devote to family members with the Alzheimer’s.

His website is www.1926Skate.com.

Donations stay in the community where he skates. They can be made through McNeil’s website or directly to the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   “Covid-19 has been devastating for seniors and their families,” McNeil says. “More and more families are going to need the assistance that their local Alzheimer Societies can provide. That’s why this fundraising skate is so important.”

 

   “More Canadians will want to keep their aging parents at home with them rather than placing them in a care facility. After what happened with Covid-19 this year they won’t want to have loved ones in a residence where they can’t visit them.”

 

   Alzheimer Societies offer programs and support services for people living with dementia and their care partners. The funds raised through National 1926 Skate Day for Alzheimer’s will help local Alzheimer Societies continue to provide virtual social and recreational programming to those who need help most.

 

He asks people to donate $19.26 to the Alzheimer Society in their region. Last year he introduced December 15 as 1926 National Skate Day for Alzheimer’s. December 15, 2021 he skated at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and on Dec. 18 at the Hamilton Waterfront rink.

(McNeil is available for phone or in person interviews on and off the ice. He has been vaccinated.)

 

McNeil’s website is www.1926Skate.com