ILWR presents Big Check to Big Brothers Big Sisters!

Written by Rachel Stern
Originally Published in the Ithaca Journal 9/6/11

Members of the Ithaca League of Women Rollers will share some of their moves as part of a fundraiser.

On Saturday, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ithaca will hold their fourth annual Roll for Kids’ Sake fundraising event from 10 a.m. to noon at Cass Park Skating Rink. Admission is $5, including skates.

Members of the Ithaca League of Women Rollers’ SufferJets and BlueStockings teams will skate alongside other event participants.

That same night, the BlueStockings will face off against the Royal Pains at 7:30 p.m. and 10 percent of the proceeds from the game will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters, said Kitty Gifford, a member of the SufferJets and one of the founders of the league.

“We generally are selective with which organizations we work with,” she said. “We get a lot of requests from great organizations and we try and stick with ones that work with youth, sports, issues of interest to women, or community-minded stuff. So Big Brothers Big Sisters is perfect.”

This is the third year the Women Rollers’ have partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, she added. The organization establishes and nurtures friendships between adults and children in need of such friendship, according to its website.

Last year Big Brothers Big Sisters raised about $2,500 from the fundraiser, including money donated by the Ithaca League of Women Rollers, said Molly Bargar, client relations specialist. About 100 people participated in the open skate and she hopes that even more come this year.

“We would love to surpass those numbers,” she said.

The money raised is used for special opportunities for matches at Big Brothers Big Sisters, she said. One year, the organization bought gift certificates to the Ithaca Farmers Market for members of the organization to use with their match.

“We like to be able to give our matches special things to do outside of the program,” she said. “We are not sure what exactly we will do this year, but it is always great to provide special opportunities for them.”

3rd Annual Wheel-a-Thon: Community Ride—Tailgate Party—Roller Derby

Grab your bicycle, tricycle, scooter, skates or stroller and join up with The Ithaca League of Women Rollers and Foodnet Meals on Wheels for their 3rd annual Wheel-a-Thon: 5-7pm on Saturday, June 11th at scenic Cass Park! 

Don’t be fooled by the name, this event is a leisurely ride along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail on the wheels of your choice, followed by a tailgate party spiced up by the foot-tapping live music of Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz Allstars.   The wheels don’t stop turning just yet—stay on for more roller derby action as the Ithaca SufferJets bout Pittsburgh’s Blitzburgh Bombers starting at 7pm.   

Got any burning derby questions that need answering?  Meet ‘n greet with Ithaca’s newest derby team, the BlueStockings who will be serving up a delicious chicken BBQ at the Meals On Wheels tailgate party.  Cost for the Tailgate BBQ is $10 and proceeds benefit Foodnet Meals on Wheels whose nationwide programs provide well over one million meals to seniors who need them each day. 
Saturday, June 11th at Cass Park Rink—701 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, N.Y.

Roller Derby doors at 7pm, Whistle at 7:30
Tickets $8 PRESALE at BrownpaperTickets.com 

$10 AT THE DOOR
 $5 Children 12 and under
Afterparty with us at Delilah’s on Cayuga Lounge—112 S. Cayuga St. in downtown Ithaca, N.Y.  Bring your dancing shoes.

New crowd rolls into derby scene
By: Tamara Lindstrom
YNN.com

It’s a sport that’s gaining momentum worldwide and now there’s a new group looking to get in on the roller derby action. Our Tamara Lindstrom has more on the latest skaters to roll in. Read the full story and watch the video…

Nothing says summer more than roller derby at Cass Park Rink—so get ready for a double dose on May 21st when the SufferJets take on New York City’s Wall Street Traitors in one of the most competitive match-ups of the year, including a Junior Derby half-time exposition bout. Ithaca’s Junior Roller Derby league—girls ages 8 through 17—is the first junior league to form in New York State, so don’t miss your chance to come watch these feisty dudettes duke it out at their first expo of the year!

Want to know what’s behind all this derby hype? Head on down to Cass Park Rink this month to be part of the fastest growing women’s sport on the planet! Pre-game entertainment including Cornell’s own a cappela group “The Class Notes”, Guest Anthem Singer: Bobby Narco, jeerleaders, Spencer/Van Etten pep band, DJs, derby merchandise, and your favorite local skaters.

Saturday, May 21st at Cass Park Rink—701 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, N.Y.

Doors at 6pm, whistle at 6:30.

ADMISSION AT THE DOOR- $10 suggested donation, $5 children 12 and under

Come by The Westy at 516 West MLK/State Street in downtown Ithaca to celebrate derby-style after the bout.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the 4-H Outreach Program out of Cornell Cooperative Extension, dedicated to empowering youth and adults by creating opportunities that build academic and life skills through experiential learning.