Kerrigan, Wylie to host ‘Evening With Champions’

Top Olympic and world skaters will continue their battle against cancer this fall as they once again gather at Harvard to participate in America’s premier figure skating exhibition, “An Evening With Champions.”

Marking the 33rd exhibition performance to benefit the Jimmy Fund, skating champions past and present will join co-hosts Paul Wylie and Nancy Kerrigan on the ice Oct. 11 and 12.

Since it began in 1970, “An Evening With Champions” has raised more than $2.1 million for cancer research and care through the Jimmy Fund.

Wylie ’90-’91, a 1992 Olympic silver medalist, will make his 17th appearance at the festivities. Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic medalist, will grace the ice of Harvard’s hockey rink for the eighth time. They will be joined by an impressive slate of amateur and professional talent, including 2002 National Pairs Champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, 2002 World Dance Champions Irina Lobacheva and Ilia Averbukh, and 2001 Junior World Champion Johnny Weir.

A Boston tradition that has been organized by Harvard’s Eliot House for three decades, “An Evening With Champions” will take place at the Bright Hockey Center with performances scheduled for 8 p.m.

“I’m excited to be involved this year not only because of the fantastic talent we’re attracting to Boston, but most importantly because of the effect the show has on the Jimmy Fund kids,” said Heather Langdon ’03, co-chair of “An Evening With Champions.”

Founded in 1948 to raise funds for the fight against children’s cancer, the Jimmy Fund supports the search for new cancer treatments for both adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as one of the world’s leaders in cancer research and care.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children and senior citizens, and may be purchased by calling (617) 493-8172. Group rates are available. For more information and an update of performers, visit the Web site at http://www.aneveningwithchampions.org/.