By Joel van der Veen

LOREBURN — A full hour of skating can work up quite an appetite.

Fortunately, organizers of the Line 19 Figure Skating Club’s skate-a-thon fundraiser had thought of everything.

A total of 13 young skaters, plus one parent, took part in the hour-long event on Thursday, doing repeated circuits of the Loreburn Arena as spectators tracked their progress.

When they were finished, the skaters and other attendees were served a hot, tasty meal consisting of perogies, ham, corn and coleslaw, along with a selection of tempting desserts.

The skaters had collected donations — either as pledges based on the number of circuits completed, or as a flat amount — in support of the club.

The youngest on the ice was Cedric McIvor, four-and-a-half, while Eli Hundeby and Emma Griffin, both Kindergarten students, were the youngest to remain on the ice for the whole hour.

Skaters were given a break at the half-hour mark to allow them time for a drink of water, and then returned to the ice.

Club treasurer Carmen Heinrichs said this was the second time they have held this event, the first being in 2014.

The club has a total of 58 skaters registered this year, drawing from a large area that includes Strongfield, Loreburn, Elbow and Davidson, and reaches as far west as Macrorie.

Many of the skaters had commitments with other sports and activities on Thursday, said Heinrichs. The club members range in age from almost four to 15.

The Line 19 club’s carnival is coming up on Feb. 28 and will feature performances set to music spanning the 1970s through the 1990s.