Nailers goalkeeper Taylor Gauthier pushes Easterseals client Emma Waldron who have formed a special bond through their participation in the annual Inclusion On Ice.

WHEELING — Augusta Levy Learning Center, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and the Wheeling Nailers once again came together for Inclusion on Ice on Sunday afternoon.

The event, in its fifth year, allowed skaters to glide along Wheeling Park Ice Rink in a safe, inclusive environment.

Easterseals Marketing Director Betsy Bethel-McFarland said that each year the event has grown with Sunday’s being the largest with more than 500 attendees.

“[Event founder David George] had a vision, and loved hockey,” she said. “He’s an advocate for people with special needs and learning disabilities, and wanted to bring something to the community to help get more people experiencing ice skating and hockey.”

George added that the event allows residents with disabilities to find ways to be connected and find resources.

In addition to the skating, the event also had a resource fair with more than two dozen agencies from each side of the Ohio River providing resources to those in need. It also featured inflatables, a sensory room, face painting and Selfie Snaps.

Bethel-McFarland said that the entire event is free except the concession stand due to the event’s sponsors.

Encova Foundation of West Virginia, the Regional Economic Development Partnership, the Wheeling Park Commission and Oglebay Foundation, Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, WesBanco and the city of Wheeling sponsored the event.

Wheeling Nailers captain Matthew Quercia said that it’s great that so many residents came to the event despite the cold.

He added that it’s important for everyone to come together.

“Hockey’s for everyone,” Quercia said. “We live a very grateful life, and we’re happy to do what we get to do every day and live our dream. So it’s awesome we get to give back to people that come and support us. It’s great to be out here and meet new people, talk to people, understand people and what they do in their lives, and just smile and have a great day.”

Quercia added that, because he’s the team’s captain, it’s important to him to lead by example.

“Being a leader doesn’t just mean in the locker room or on the ice, it means in the community,” he said. “I’m grateful, I love doing it, and I love giving back to people.”

In addition to the Nailers, the Tri-State Thunder, Wheeling Lightningbirds, the Wheeling Park, Wheeling Central Catholic and Linsly high school hockey teams, and the Wheeling Skate Club all spent their Sunday afternoon volunteering their time skating with attendees.

Kyle Kull, Laborer’s International Union of North America Locals 1149 of Wheeling organizer, said that his union volunteered for the third time in a row by assisting attendees on and off the ice to ensure they’re able to enjoy their time on the ice.

“The whole reason we do this is because the community needs to come out and support people with disabilities, because not everybody who has a child with a disability would bring their child to the public ice rink on a regular day, but because this is a special event, is free and geared toward people with disabilities of all kinds, then they can do it,” Bethel-McFarland said.

George added that it has been great seeing each event continue to grow as well as the resources grow for not only people with disabilities but everyone throughout his lifetime.

“When I was a kid, I don’t remember walkers even being used on the ice when I ice skated and played hockey here at the park,” he said. “It’s a great way to guide them slowly but surely, before they become more independent. Some people might still need to use those resources, whether they’re walkers or sleds or just any kind of things, like poles or whatever it takes for them to connect in some way and make them feel like they’re worthy enough to be engaged with others, feel like they have a purpose in their life, develop better relationships, congregate with other persons in the community and essentially live what we call life.”