Ashburn Pre-Teen Gives Back to Wounded Warriors By Skating 'Laps of Love'

Sophia Kammann, 12, of Ashburn is an avid figure skater who has been skating since age 4.

Sophia devotes much of her time practicing her technique on the ice rink. So when it came time for planning her Bat Mitzvah, she decided to merge her passion for figure skating with an organization she cares about, the Wounded Warrior Project.  

The Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a rite of passage for Jewish children. This ritual marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. Tradition states that those who will have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah should complete a mitzvah, or act of human kindness on their own.  

Sophia has been preparing for this rite of passage with the assistance of her mother, as well as Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation in Ashburn.

Planning the fundraiser began months ago, when Sophia met with a longtime Wounded Warriors Project donor and supporter her family has worked with while volunteering for the organization over the holidays who encouraged her to "think big."

"We've seen first hand how beneficial the organization is," said Sophia's mom Andrea Kammann. "It makes a huge difference for individual families."

Sophia was able to recruit friends to help her pledge donations for Laps of Love. She hopes to raise $5,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. So far, she is about 20 percent to her goal. 

The Laps of Love fundraiser will take place at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at the Ashburn Ice House, located on Smith Switch Road in Ashburn. Sophia hopes to skate 300 laps over the course of one and a half hours. The event is open to the community and an $8 donation at the door grants admission to the fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. 

The Ashburn Ice House is an instrumental part of the fundraiser, donating hard work and effort to ensure the fundraiser goes off without a hitch.

Sophia has learned many valuable lessons in her journey to her Bat Mitzvah on November 9. 

"I've learned people can be very generous when you have a cause you are raising awareness of," Sophia said. "It brings out the good in people." 

To learn more about Sophia's project or to make an online contribution, visit her Wounded Warriors Project fundraising website.