Community raises funds to send figure skater's family to Olympics
Friends of Bradie Tennell, a 19-year-old Carpentersville figure skater, are raising funds to send her two brothers to watch her compete in the Olympic Games Feb. 11 in Gangneung, South Korea.
They have raised roughly $6,000 of a $20,000 goal through a Gofundme.com page.
Tennell's mom Jean, a single mother of three, is a registered nurse working two jobs to make ends meet. Younger brothers Austin and Shane are her No. 1 fans.
"As a close friend of Bradie's family, I would love to be able to have these amazing boys attend the Games and cheer their sister on," writes Michelle McNamara, who is organizing the fundraiser.
Tennell was 2½ when she announced she wanted to ice skate. The family started her in group lessons at the Crystal Ice House in Crystal Lake. She has trained the last 10 years at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove.
Tennell won the 2015 national junior title, the bronze medal at the 2017 Skate America competition, and the women's national title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships this month, earning a spot on the Olympic team.
She leaves Feb. 5 for South Korea.