Submitted Photo Sister Mary Ruth Huhn, center, and Little Flower CYO members Zach Selensky, left, and Allison Selensky, right, take donations at the CYO’s Skating for Life event, February 2022.

The Little Flower Catholic Youth Organization of Rugby will hold its fourth annual Skating for Life fundraiser at Al Wentz Arena Sunday, Jan. 15 from 1-3 p.m.

The event has become a tradition for the group, who donates the funds raised by the free-will donations collected for admission to the rink to support Women’s Care Center of Devils Lake.

The funds pay for baby supplies and other items needed by women and families who face crisis pregnancies.

The event also celebrates Sanctity of Human Life Month, a designation given to January by the Catholic Church in memory of the 1973 Roe versus Wade decision legalizing abortion in the USA. Nearly 50 years later on June 24, 2022, the court struck down the decision.

“We still think it’s important to raise awareness, because there’s still obviously women that are in need,” Mikaylee Livedalen, Rugby CYO president said. “There’s still people with unplanned pregnancies and things like that where they still need help.”

“We find the Women’s Care Center is a really good place that offers resources for women and babies that need it, so we still think it’s a really important cause to donate to even though Roe v. Wade was overturned,” she added.

Livedalen said Skating for Life would give Rugby residents a chance to enjoy Sunday afternoon skating and socializing for a good cause.

She said in the three years the CYO has held Skating for Life events, the group has seen a lot of success with it.

“We’ve had a pretty good turnout,” Livedalen said. “We didn’t know what to expect at the beginning because it was a new thing, but we had families from the parish, friends and people from the CYO turn out, so there are quite a few people who show up and it’s a lot of fun.”

“Come join us on the 15th,” she added. “It should be a fun time. Bring your friends. Bring anyone. It’s a free-will donation and it’s for a great cause.”