Group helps children with special needs discover confidence, joy on the ice

With the Paralympics set to begin in Milan Cortina soon, skaters like Melody Forrest are proving that the heart of competition is about more than medals. Right here in Georgia, Miracle Sk8trs is helping kids with special needs discover confidence, joy, and community on the ice.

Melody Forrest, a rising young skater, beams when talking about her experiences.

“Skating makes me so happy and it makes me feel strong and brave and encouraged,” she said. “They were so helpful to me and kind and they showed me what routine I am doing. Ice skating is so much fun, you should just stay happy and positive and brave when you practice ice skating.”

Miracle Sk8trs brings together skaters from across Georgia, pairing kids with special needs with caring volunteers. Grey Altemeyer, a volunteer coach, explained the impact.

“I think Miracle Sk8trs is so unique because it’s made up of people from so many different places all across Georgia. Our events really serve as unifiers,” he said. “It allows these participants to find something they really, really love. The biggest impact is these kids being able to find skating because it’s such a niche thing here in Georgia. By getting it out there and having kids try it, it’s really special. The biggest thing is the spark.”

Derek Nesbitt, Director of Community Engagement for the Gladiators, said programs like this reflect the true purpose of sports.

“For a lot of these kids, it’s their first time on the ice and I am glad we could support that opportunity,” he said. “I am always wanting to invite people to come learn our game, that’s it at the root of it.”

Altemeyer also emphasized the role of volunteers in creating lasting memories and a passion for the sport.

“What I’ve seen at Miracle Sk8tr events is that they merge as one. They create a caring community, one that reaches out for each other. Because we have such a compassionate group of volunteers, it creates memories, it creates passion, it creates a true love for this sport and more importantly others.”

For Melody, every practice is a reminder of how far she’s come. 

“Ice skating makes me feel proud of myself and I am not going to give up,” she said.

Miracle Sk8trs plans to host another skating event later this summer, giving even more kids the chance to fall in love with the ice. For these skaters, the lessons extend far beyond skating—they’re about courage, joy, and believing in yourself.