RISE-One Night Only This Thursday

This Thursday, Feb. 17, Neshaminy 24 and more than 500 movie theaters nationwide will present the movie, RISE, for one night only at 8 p.m. The movie commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1961 U.S. World Team tragedy when the airplane carrying the U.S. Figure Skating team crashed en route to the Prague World Championships near the airport at Brussels, killing all onboard.

Proceeds from ticket sales around the country will go to U.S. Figure Skating's Memorial Fund, as will a portion of the proceeds from Indelible Tracings, Patty Bushman's book on the 1961 team. The Fund awards about $300,000 annually in grants and scholarships to figure skaters.

The legendary Peggy Fleming, 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist, was a recipient of the Memorial Fund. Peggy was 12 at the time her 28-year old coach from Allentown, PA, Bill Kipp, was killed in the crash. Other recipients of the Fund include Olympic champions Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton and Evan Lysacek, as well as countless athletes all with a dream in mind...to reach their full potential in competitive figure skating.

The movie documents figure skating's growth in popularity over the years. Evan Lysacek, 2010 Olympic gold medalist, debuts his uniquely choreographed figure skating performance. The movie's narrators include Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton and Brian Boitano, and Michelle Kwan, with host, The Today Show's Matt Lauer. Sixteen-time Emmy Award winners Lookalike Productions produced and directed the movie.

RISE's message: "Can the end of one dream give rise to another?" Only seven years after the crash, Peggy Fleming won her gold medal. Our country continues to produce hard-working, talented, legendary skaters. If you've only glided out onto the ice once or twice, or not at all, if you've ever been passionate about reaching your dream, then come out and see this inspirational movie this Thursday.

For more info and for movie tickets, visit http://www.rise1961.com.