Main fundraiser photo

Stand up for Beckley Derby Dames


Beckley Area Derby Dames lose practice space, in search of new Home!

Our Story
The Beckley Area Derby Dames (BADD) and BADD Apples Junior Roller Derby team, established in 2011, recently lost our practice and event space at MacArthur Skating Rink due to expiration in contract and are in search of a new one.

BADD is looking for venues in the Beckley, WV area to host practices and events. This space needs to be at least 8,000 square feet, bathroom accessible, include space for public parking and seating (room for bleachers), and allow concession sales with permits.  


BADD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is philanthropically active throughout the Beckley area, hosting game (“bout”) charities for the Raleigh County Humane Society, the Raleigh County Women’s Center, and Mountain State Center for Independent Living.

Kelly Elkins, Community Resource Facilitator at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living says, "Donations they have made to Mountain State Centers for Independent Living have helped those with disabilities continue to live independently in their homes and communities with much needed assistive technology for our community living service program. They have even had MTSTCIL consumers participate in their local bouts by being non-skating officials, and that is community integration at it's finest. Consumer, Kermit Barnhart still talks about his ‘jam timer’ experience.”


The league’s mission is to “to actively create, promote and sustain an environment that fosters strength, courage, vitality, and empowerment of women through the sport of roller derby. [And] to strive to provide positive entertainment to fans and give back to the community that support the team through volunteering and charity work”.

Ranked in the top 100 out of 400 member leagues in the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association in 2018, BADD is Beckley, West Virginia’s premier competitive roller derby league. The league consists of 20 active adult skaters and 10 junior skaters. Skaters travel from all over West Virginia and Virginia to be a part of the highest ranked roller derby team in Central Appalachia.

Photo Credit- R.L Robertson Photography 

Interleague Coordinator and All-Star jammer T. Cooke encourages community and regional help in finding the league a new space. “This is our passion. We love to provide a space for anyone to challenge themselves physically. We accept anyone into our family.”

Junior derby skater Avalon Kinsey “Tiger Biter” has been playing on the Poison Apples since its inception. She, like the other girls, had many emotions about their loss of practice space.

“I'm saddened because we've come really far and I've made friends with my teammates. I'm afraid some will leave because we have to find a new place, and moving might mean we have to start back to square one. Knowing that we might not even find a place makes me even more sad because roller derby is one of my favorite sports and I've been doing it since I was eight years old. I just hope we can find a new place that's not too far away so I can keep my team.”


The Need 
The Beckley Area Derby Dames need to secure a new practice space facility and team safety gear and equipment for new skaters.

All donations and gifts will go directly toward the following league expenses:

1.) Down payment on practice venue- $1,500
2.) Storage and moving fees- $500
3.) Safety gear and equipment (ie. helmets, pads, skates) for new skaters to use before purchasing own gear-$1,000

Thank You
Thank you for your contribution! A gift of $1 goes a long way in helping The Beckley Area Derby Dames and BADD Apples Junior Roller Derby team obtain a new home and practice space. We appreciate all your love and support of our roller derby team family and community. 

You can support us further by following our progress here on GoFundMe or on our social media platforms!

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/beckleyareaderbydames/ 
Instagram instagram.com/beckleyareaderbydames 


Best,
Beckley Area Derby Dames

Organizer

Beth Lewis
Organizer
Beckley, WV
BADDFoundation DBA BeckleyAreaDerbyDame
 
Registered nonprofit
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