Ice skating skills land Marlboro girl in show
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

Kara Rafael, 12, of Marlboro, was one of 100 youngsters chosen to take part in the Stars, Stripes and Skates benefit, which raises money for the 9/11 Families Give Back Fund.

MARLBORO - Kara Rafael loves to ice skate because when she jumps, it feels like flying.

Kara, 12, of Marlboro, started ice skating in group lessons when she was 7. Her mother, Donna Rafael, said that after Kara won her first competition at the age of 9, she began to train with a private coach. Kara is now competing against ice skaters who are home-schooled.

Rafael said the desire to continue ice skating has to come from Kara. She said her daughter is the one who wakes her up at 5:30 a.m. to go to practice.

"When she gets on the ice you can see she's doing it for herself," Rafael said. "As a mother, I am proud of her."

According to Rafael, Kara spent a year trying to learn one move. Even when she fell down, Rafael said, she just got right back up.

"As a mom, I'm watching this determination and I think a lot of kids would have given up," she said.

Rafael said while her daughter pursues ice skating, the goal is to make sure Kara is living a balanced life that includes school, friends, family and ice skating.

"She knows school is her first priority," Rafael said.

Kara agreed with her mother and said although she "absolutely loves to skate," she would not want to be a professional skater because then she would have to be home-schooled. Instead Kara's future aspirations include becoming a coach.

However, while she is still young, Kara's ice skating career will continue with her appearance in a benefit show in October.

The fifth annual "Stars, Stripes and Skates ICEtravaganza" is a commemorative event that benefits the 9/11 Families Give Back Fund. The show will be hosted on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y. Young skaters from six cities along the East Coast have tried out for the show.

Kara was one of the youngsters who participated in the "Stars, Stripes and Skates Talent Search" at Floyd Hall Arena, Little Falls. The audition included dozens of figure skaters and hockey skaters between the ages of 4 and 19 skating in an "American Idol" type of program where they were judged by an audience on their performance, according to a press release.

Kara was one of 100 junior figure skaters and hockey skaters from the northeast region of the United States to be selected to skate in the show, the press release stated.

On Oct. 22 two-time Olympic medalist (silver and bronze) Nancy Kerrigan will host the show along with 10 other skaters. According to the press release, the show will "thrill skating fans with a dynamic display of talent energized by the top hits and dazzling choreography."

In addition to a star-studded lineup, the 100 young figure skaters will perform a moving number to commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"The show is a great idea and a great cause and I can't wait to do it,"

Kara said.

The mission of the 9/11 Families Give Back Fund is to preserve and increase awareness of the significance of 9/11 and to recognize the unrecognized, according to the press release.

"While the job gets more difficult each year, it also becomes that much more important to preserve and honor the memory of the heroes of that tragic day; those who perished and those who survived," the press release stated.

To attend the event or make a donation to the fund, call (212) 481-8484 or send an e-mail to SSS@fireworksics.com.