DAPHNE – Terry and Jennifer Eady can be sure of one thing each month, their skating rink will be used during the school year.

Last Friday, students from Daphne East Elementary School took the short bus ride to Hot Wheels Skate Center. Not only is it a fun day for the kids, it’s a major fund-raiser for the schools. The Eadys return $3 from every $4 of the cost of renting skates. Daphne East raised more than $20,000 last year from the monthly skate day.

“We do it to supplement our PE (physical education) class for the day,” said coach Carol Valdes. “But it generated enough money to purchase Promethean boards. They cost about $5,000 each but every classis able to have one now.”

Working with 18 different schools across the county, the Eadys estimated they returned about $200,000 to schools last year alone.

“Our biggest school raised about $35,000 last year,” said Terry Eady. “Some use it for playgrounds, some to buy office equipment.

“We’re glad we can help, in a way that is healthy for the students. Skating burns 650 calories an hour. For some students, they burn more calories in one day here than they do all week.

“Plus, it is a way to hold kids accountable. The older kids know that if they act up in class, they can’t come to skate day.”

According to Valdes, getting the students on skates provides excellent cardiovascular exercise. It also helps the children with coordination and balance.

“We come here once a month,” said Valdes. “It’s good for the kids and it helps us to afford to buy things at school that we might not be able to otherwise. This year, we are trying to raise money for readers for digital books.”

The Eadys owned skate centers in other locations before they moved to Daphne and fell in love with the town. The desire to help area schools has developed a symbiotic relationship. By introducing children to skating, the Eadys are fostering business for their afterschool and summer camp programs.

Unlike most skating centers that target a teen market, the Eadys have made an effort to attract a younger crowd.

“We actually cater to elementary age,” said Eady. “There are not a lot of things the younger kids can do. We try to provide a safe and healthy environment.”