Dorothy Hamill celebrates life every day.
She and her husband, John MacColl, call the Coachella Valley home for part of the year and she says enthusiastically, “I just love the desert.”
She loves to walk, to hike, and to ride her bike to stay active when she’s in town. Although she doesn’t consider herself a hard-core athlete, she shares, “I was a passionate hard core figure skater. I always loved it. Now it’s more like play. Skating is still my love. (The rink) is a therapeutic place for me to tool around with the wind at my face with the music playing. It’s fun.”
Hamill’s Skating Highlights:
• In 1976, she won the gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Austria and the World Championship title in Sweden.
• She’s been inducted to both the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame (1991) and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame (2000).
• She has won a Daytime Emmy for her performance in Romeo & Juliet On Ice.
photo courtesy of bighorn bam
Dorothy Hamill (left) with BAM founder Selby Dunham.
Hamill looks forward to her return to the desert to serve as the 2015 Honorary Chairperson for “ A Miracle on El Paseo” honoring Bighorn “Behind a Miracle” (BAM) from 5-10 p.m. Nov. 21. The Shops On El Paseo will host a magical charity-shopping extravaganza by transforming this luxury destination into a winter wonderland.
The carnival-like atmosphere will have holiday-inspired games, a four-story Ferris wheel, and festive food and spirits catered by prestigious local restaurants. Street dancing is encouraged while guests enjoy live entertainment courtesy of pop-rock band “Night Shift” of Citrus College and DJ, “musicologist”, Angelique Bianca, will spin from 8-10 p.m.
A percentage from the sales of “A Miracle on El Paseo” as well as sales throughout the following week at The Shops on El Paseo assist BAM, which is dedicated to providing funding for diagnosis, treatment research, services, transportation, equipment and education for those affected by all cancers.
In her role, Hamill will oversee the grand illumination of El Paseo’s 60-foot “Tree of Lights.”
As a breast cancer survivor, Hamill relates, “I know what it’s like to get the diagnosis. It ripples around the individual and affects the whole of family and friends. So much greatness has come from all the awareness and fundraising. There is so much passion, interest, love and caring. We are so lucky that medicine has come as far … breast cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. This is an incredible event to support and a wonderful way to celebrate life.”
BIGHORN BAM “A Miracle on El Paseo”, 5-10 p.m. Nov. 21 on El Paseo in Palm Desert, 760-610-8218; www.bighornbam.com
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