Roller derby has everything anyone could ever want in a sport – racing, roller blades and rabble-rousing – and come October, a local roller derby team will provide an evening full of all of these and more in the name of a good cause.
The Roller Hills Derby Dames, a full-contact, women”s roller derby league based in the Palouse, will host a double header on Oct. 3 at Beasley Colliseum in Pullman to roll in the dough for Gritman Medical Center”s Bosom Buddies program.
The league said they are passionate about giving back to the community. They have donated more than $10,000 to local charities within the last six years.
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The Rolling Hills Derby Dames will host two back-to-back matches on Oct. 3 for their fundraiser at the Beasley Colliseum.
The league said this year, they have decided to donate proceeds from the event”s beer garden to the Bosom Buddies program, which provides free mammograms to local women who are unable to afford the screening without financial assistance.
Catreas Mohr, a 48-year-old woman known by her derby name, Letha Lee Blonde, is the oldest Rolling Hills Derby Dame. Mohr said she grew up around roller derby, but didn”t pick it up herself until roughly five years ago.
Mohr said this year she wanted to have a breast cancer-themed event. The topic hits close to home for Mohr, whose mother was diagnosed and treated for stage two breast cancer.
Although her mother is now doing great, Mohr said the experience made her realize just how common and serious a disease breast cancer truly is.
Mohr said at the event she hopes to emphasize the significance of catching cancer early as well as how important it is for woman to get regular mammograms.
In addition to her own personal contact with the disease, Mohr said some of the women on the team are familiar with breast cancer, either by knowing someone who has been diagnosed or by having been diagnosed themselves.
The beer garden will have a selection of beers and ciders provided by Paradise Creek Brewery and Whiskey Barrel Cider Company, both out of Pullman.
The event, which is the first ever co-ed roller derby bout on the Palouse, will consist of two matches. The first is at 5 p.m., where Pullman”s Whitman Hitmen will take on Spokane”s Quad Forsaken, and the second is at 7 p.m., where the Rolling Hills Derby Dames will take on Inland EmPower Roller Derby.
Mohr said halftime will feature a dance performance and raffle drawings, where raffle winners will have the chance to receive Derby Dames merchandise in addition to a number of other prizes.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and guests are encouraged to make a $5 donation upon entry.
An after-party will be held at Etsi Bravo in Pullman for those 21 and older.
Whitney Hillard can be reached at [email protected]