The Greenbrier River Rollers (GRR) will take on the Appalachian Hell Betties from Athens, OH, in their first bout of the season on April 11 at 6 p.m. in the WV Building on the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea. This game marks the first game in the fourth season for this roller derby team, and a great way to wrap up the Chocolate Festival. Formerly known as the Greenbrier Roller Vixens, the league has adopted a new name and logo as the Greenbrier River Rollers, which is now made up of two teams, the “Vixens” and the “Half-Pints.” The Vixens are a competitive team made up of women over 18 from various and diverse backgrounds who have come together for the love of Roller Derby. The “Half Pints” are new co-ed junior roller derby team made up of boys and girls age 8-17. The GRR Vixens, a 501 (c)(4) organization, routinely donate a portion of their bout proceeds to a local charity. GRR has selected the Children’s Youth and Advocacy Center (CYAC) to be the charity recipient for their April 11 bout. The Vixens have participated for several years in the Polar Bear Plunge Club’s annual benefit for the CYAC. This year the fundraiser had to be cancelled due to the excessive snowfall and GRR decided they wanted CYAC to benefit from their first bout. CYAC’s mission is to end child abuse in Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Monroe Counties of West Virginia by creating a multidisciplinary response to child maltreatment through utilizing a team approach to investigation, prosecution, treatment and prevention. Food will be provided by When Pigs Fly and musical entertainment by Greenbrier East High School’s ‘2nd Block Rock’ in an evening of hard-hitting roller derby action supporting GRR and CYAC. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the first whistle is at 6 p.m. GRR is always looking for new skaters, referees, non-skating officials and referees. For more information, please go to www.greenbrierrollervixens.com and “Like” us on Facebook.
