Most of you who know me think of my weird niche athletic hobby as Ultimate Frisbee. It's a sport that I truly believe is good for the world! The spirit, the fairness, the respect for humans even in heated situations, the constant conversation about gender equity, the ease of acceptance and the spreading of joy- these are some of the simple stubborn ways that Ultimate makes the world better. In the 13 or so years I've been playing, I couldn't imagine a more inclusive, supportive, motivated community. Then I found derby.
"Finding" derby is an accurate description for what happens to most women in this community. For me, like many, a period of chaotic transition led me to get on skates and I've never looked back. It's a place I can go to forget that I'm frequently seen as different or weaker or not deserving or only worth what I look like. It's a place where support looks less like happy positive pats on the back and more like people clapping when I fall, hard, because they know I just learned something about myself. It's a place where the physical skills we learn directly translate into strength and wisdom that we all carry into our non-derby lives. I've loved surrounding myself with the kind of people who play Ultimate because I think it's important to live the values that we define on the field. Being surrounded by the kind of women who play derby though has helped me to grow into a person who can actually give something back.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization we empower women and girls through the sport of roller derby and it is important to me to continue being able to do this. With that said, I hope you will consider supporting our fundraising efforts! Our dues and small event fundraisers only go so far. We rely on friends, family, and fans to keep us rolling on the track, hip checking those we meet along the way.
IN RETURN FOR YOUR DONATION - choose some swag! AND one thing from below (definitely up for negotiation, feel free to recommend something to add to the list, I'm winging it here)!
- If you're an Ultimate player (or you're not but you play odds), you can 1 in 10 odds me on anything.
- I will send you a hand written letter on any topic.
- You may ask me one private question that I must answer truthfully.
- I will come to your house (may take longer if you are not in the Seattle area) and give you a fantastic hug.