In this issue
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Breast cancer survivors find hope in each other at Hope Lodge

Skating to make strides against breast cancer

Michigan Cancer Consortium: Spirit of Collaboration Award

Central Indiana Service Center enrolls CPS-3 volunteers in November

Patty Avery: State Lead Ambassador of the Year
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Great American Smokeout Quiz

We have a winner! VOICES photo contest

VOICES in the kitchen

Skating to make strides against breast cancer
As the Rollergirls of Southern Indiana (ROSI) were closing in on the end of their season, they took on their toughest opponent yet…breast cancer. On Saturday, July 11 ROSI (pronounced “Rosie”) hosted Skate-or-Bust, a special roller derby event benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC). The event was a great success, raising $2,873 for the awareness and prevention of breast cancer.

“ROSI wanted to help Making Strides because breast cancer is a major concern for women,” said Megan Dukes, a rookie skater who brought The Society’s MSABC event to ROSI’s attention. “Women’s flat-track roller derby is very empowering for those involved, and ROSI wants to help women overcome obstacles that face our gender, like breast cancer."

Eric Herndon, Director with the American Cancer Society said, “The commitment and the partnership that ROSI has with the American Cancer Society is strategic in helping raise awareness about breast cancer prevention, education, and research.”

For the bout, ROSI divided up and borrowed a few skaters from other leagues to debut two event-specific teams: the Milk Maids vs. the Bad Mammogrammers. Visiting players included skaters from leagues in Paducah and Lexington, Kentucky, as well as skaters from Cincinnati, Ohio. The bout was a close match in the beginning, but the Milk Maids pulled ahead before half-time and remained ahead the rest of the game. The bout took place at Swonder Ice Arena in Evansville or as ROSI has lovingly dubbed it, “Swonder Roller Derby Arena.” The final score was 67 to 47.

“The event went better than we planned,” Dukes said. “We exceeded our goal of $2,500 and had a great time doing it.”

The Rollergirls of Southern Indiana is an all-female amateur roller derby team based out of Evansville, Indiana. ROSI was formed in August of 2007, and is the only non-profit roller derby league in southwest Indiana. Skater-managed and operated, the league enjoys being in a female-dominated sport, and often associates with the World War II poster icon, Rosie the Riveter.
"I think if Rosie the Riveter was here today, not only would she play roller derby, but she would take on cancer in a cage match," said Chesty Copperpot, a second season ROSI skater.

ROSI strives to better their community and has donated time, money, merchandise, and support to many non-profit organizations including the Vanderburgh Humane Society, WNIN (Evansville’s Public Broadcasting Station), and Youth First, who aids local youth in an effort to prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behaviors, and maximize student success. ROSI has also collected donations for the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 (NMCB 24) currently stationed overseas, something that Rosie the Riveter would certainly be proud of.

For more information about the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, visit http://www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

Pictured: ROSI skater at the Skate or Bust event