You might not consider a rough-and-tumble group of women who play a contact sport on wheels and use intimidation as a weapon to also be charitible, but the Tampa Bay Derby Darlins are just that.
When this league of 80 women is not competing in Tampa or battling top-ranked teams around the country, players donate their time and raise money for Tampa Bay area charities.
Team members sometimes cook dinner at the
Ronald McDonald houses in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Others play bingo with war veterans at
Bay Pines or
James A. Haley VA hospitals.
The team even has adopted a
Lowry Park Zoo flamingo in honor of its mascot Frank.
Heading into its sixth season, the league chose to partner with and raise funds for
Big Cat Rescue of Tampa Bay.
Take a look at this video story about the
Tampa Bay Derby Darlins by 83 Degrees Managing Photographer Julie Busch Branaman on location at Big Cat Rescue and featuring action from a recent Cat Fight Bout.
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