SOUTHBOROUGH – Southborough’s Caroline Depietri has been preparing to be a featured skater at the Skating Club of Boston’s “A Night of Stars” event.
That show is now set to take place this evening.
The event is hosted by Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton and proceeds benefit the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which funds advanced research into cancer treatment. Proceeds will also go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham.
“I think everyone can say that they’ve been affected by this disease in some kind of way, whether it’s a relative or a family friend,” Depietri said in a recent interview with the Community Advocate. “I think it’s something that affects everyone, and it’s really important to raise awareness around it because it has reached so many people.”
Skater continues fundraising efforts
In preparation for the event, Depietri participated in the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer fundraising campaign through the CARES Foundation, where she raised more than $10,000.
Her fundraising came as part of the Team Cleo fundraising group, which has raised more than $87,000 for the campaign. The group is named after Cleo Theodoropulos, a co-chair of the club’s junior activities committee who died a week after being diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, at the age of 16 in April of 2019.
“Cleo came into the rink every day with a big smile on her face and a positivity that was contagious to everyone,” wrote Depietri on her fundraising page. “She was truly a bright light in our skating community.”
In addition to Theodoropulos, Depietri wrote, her grandmother, who purchased all of her competition dresses, also died in 2019 from pancreatic cancer.
Upcoming event to showcase ‘elite level skaters’
This Night of Stars show will feature national and international figure skating medalists including Olympic bronze medalist Mirai Nagasu, U.S. champion Max Aaron and World Figure Skating Championship silver medalist Ashley Wagner.
“They got a bunch of elite level skaters to come and perform,” Depietri said. “A lot of different disciplines of skating will be performing.”
Mother introduced daughter to skating
Depietri said that she became interested in skating after her mother, a competitive figure skater who was in Disney on Ice, introduced her to it at the age of four. She fell in love, and decided to pursue her passion.
Since she started skating 16 years ago, Depietri has competed in the New England Regionals eight times and has been to the Eastern Sectionals Championship.
She has been involved with the Skating Club of Boston for many years, performing in its annual show and working with the club as a pilates instructor.
“I love skating because I think there’s just something so freeing about being on the ice,” Depietri said. “It’s always been my happy place.”
Figure skater studies at BU
Depietri is currently a student at Boston University, where she studies nutrition and psychology while participating in the B.U. Figure Skating Club’s competitive team.
“Nutrition and mental toughness are huge components in any sport,” Depietri said. “They’re topics that I knew I wanted to pursue when I went into school so that I could help other athletes get their peak and perform optimally.”
Tonight’s event will celebrate the Skating Club of Boston’s new skating facility in Norwood, taking place at the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center at 750 University Avenue. Tickets are $40. The show kicks off at 6 p.m.
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