Skaters to put on show to benefit teen

Charleston's figure-skating community is rallying around a young man who has captured the hearts of many in the Lowcountry.

If you haven't read about him in The Post and Courier already, Tony Pasquino is the 16-year-old Fort Dorchester High School student who has battled cystic fibrosis all his life and is on Pittsburgh Children's Hospital's waiting list for a liver transplant.

Tony is an active, outgoing teen, but no longer can do activities such as skateboarding and playing soccer. One wrong move could rupture his enlarged spleen, and he could die. As in most transplant cases, medical expenses have mounted for Tony's family.

Months ago, local figure skater Heather Courson, a friend of Tony's, was approached by the Medical University of South Carolina, which offered to buy an hour of ice time at the Carolina Ice Palace for a figure-skating fundraiser.

Out of it came Skate Tony, a benefit figure-skating show to be held 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ice Palace, 7665 Northwoods Blvd., North Charleston.

Tickets are available at the door and cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and under. Raffle tickets will be sold separately.

"The most important goal of Skate Tony is for everyone to come together to support Tony and the skaters who are donating their time and celebrating the gift of life," says Courson.