The Skating Club of Boston Launches Always Champions Campaign to Honor Club Members Lost in January Crash

On January 29th, The Skating Club of Boston lost six Club members in a tragic plane crash in Washington D.C. To honor the victims - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Christine and Spencer Lane, and Jin and Jinna Han - the Club is launching a multifaceted campaign to both honor their lives and create a permanent place of remembrance at the Club for their families, friends and visiting members of the public.

The campaign will include the renaming of the Club’s West Rink to the “Always Champions Training Rink” and to include a tribute wall with stories and photos of each of the six Club members. The West Rink was where Evgenia and Vadim led the Club’s “Tomorrow’s Champions” developmental skater program and where Jinna and Spencer both trained. In addition, there will be a donor wall acknowledging those who have contributed to the campaign.

Outside The Skating Club of Boston’s main entrance, three benches will honor members of the three families who perished. Each bench will have a permanent plaque with the individual names and at the foot of their respective benches, as well as the bronzed skates of the two coaches and two skaters. To create a space for reflection, two weeping cherry trees will be planted on each side of the flag poles that are front and center to the facility. Memorial plaques will also be included.

The Club will also establish two new scholarship funds and four Club awards to be given out annually. The scholarships will honor skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane and be awarded to future generations of skaters pursuing their skating dreams at the Club. The criteria for each of the awards will be determined by the Han and Lane families.

The four Club awards will honor coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov and skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane. These awards will be presented at the annual Club Awards Banquet held each June. The criteria for these awards will be determined by Max Naumov, son of Evegnia and Vadim, Joon Han, father of Jinna Han and Doug Lane, father of Spencer Lane.

“Spencer truly found his people and his place at The Skating Club of Boston, and I have so many memories of Christine smiling and laughing with dear friends at the Club,” said Doug Lane. “I’m incredibly grateful to this community for honoring the six amazing people we lost, and for ensuring that their spirit continues to inspire others to chase their dreams.”

For those interested in donating to Always Champions, there are two options. First, a straight donation can be made HERE. Donations of $250 or more will be honored on the Club’s website, while donations of $1,000 or more will be featured on the acknowledgment tribute wall in the Always Champions Training Rink. Both individuals and companies can participate.

To help kick off the fundraising campaign, the Club will be hosting a Frozen 5K Fundraiser on Thursday, August 21st. This is an opportunity for supporters to come together for the cause by skating 28 laps in the Tenley E. Albright Performance Center, which features an Olympic-sized skating rink. Those who prefer to walk may participate on the concourse. Individuals can fundraise by themselves or as part of a team, and the event will feature music, food, beverages, a cash bar and more. More information about the Frozen 5K can be found HERE.

“We developed this campaign to honor the memories of these six individuals, and to ensure that their personal legacies will forever be a part of the Club’s legacy,” said Doug Zeghibe, CEO and Executive Director, The Skating Club of Boston. “Their commitment to the sport and spirit of excellence will continue to inspire today’s and future generations of our community. For all of us, they are Always Champions who will never be forgotten.”

More information about the Always Champions campaign, including how to donate, can be found on the website.