Gliding Stars to present "Magical Fantasy on Ice" this weekend at Pepsi Center

Wesley Demarino, Elizabeth Brown and Elise Kellner skate with the Gliding Stars program.

Driven by the dream to be a star, more than 110 skaters challenged by disabilities will perform as members of the Gliding Stars in "Magical Fantasy on Ice."

The event will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, March 28 and 1 p.m., Saturday, March 29 at the Amherst Pepsi Center, 1615 Amherst Manor Drive, Amherst.

Tickets are $8 and are available by calling Gliding Stars at 608-8345 or online at www.glidingstars. org. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Becoming a Gliding Star helps individuals faced with various disabilities improve self-esteem, strength, balance, coordination, endurance and self-discipline.

Elise Kellner, a student at Heim Middle School, is part of the Gliding Stars adaptive ice skating program, where she has become an accomplished skater as a volunteer and friend to her "stars." She is excited to be doing a small group helping Wesley DeMarino and Elizabeth Brown in this year's annual ice show.

"This skating is amazing; it is a great privilege to be working with Elizabeth and Wesley. They both have improved so much," she said. "In the beginning we were at baby steps, but now after all this hard work, it has finally paid off, and we're able to go a mile."