The Burn City Rollers look like a small gang.
The women are inked, pierced and intense.
For five years, Auburn's roller derby team has been recognized as aggressive competitors.
Queens of a counterculture sport, they are broadening their horizons this season and giving back to the city of Auburn.
"If you can make a difference, you want to make that difference," said Ashley Pott, second-year veterinary student. "Raising money for something else while drawing attention to derby--it's a win-win."
For Pott, who is brand new to roller derby, the team's outreach efforts are simply icing on the cake.
The Burn City Rollers spent the year volunteering with the Lee County Humane Society.
They held a booth at Woofstock in Kiesel Park Aug. 24, and raised $400 for the Humane Society with a bingo night at Zazu's Gastropub the week before.
"(The Humane Society) used the money for medicine, medical supplies, food and utilities," Vanessa Thuma, president of the Burn City Rollers, said.
They also made connections with a local women's shelter and plan to get involved with the Boys and Girls Club by holding demos and open skate nights.
"It's important to give back because we need to help other groups," Thuma said. "Without that help, they can't continue to thrive and offer services to the greater community."
The service projects do not only fill a need within the community, they allow the team to transcend the stereotype the sport has been branded with.
"You always want to have a positive image," Neecee Matthews-Bradshaw, veteran team member, said. "Especially with roller derby, people think 'Oh, those are some thuggish girls. They're scary,' but we're really not."
Matthews-Bradshaw, known to the derby world as Seedy Ell, is completing her doctorate in rhetoric and composition at Auburn University.
She is a jammer and a blocker on the team, which means she can take a hit and score points, despite her petite stature.
"All of us have lives outside of derby and we're trying to let people see what that is," Seedy said.
Outside of derby, the lives the Rollers lead are rich and varied.
The team members are students, teachers, mothers and military wives drawn together to connect with other passionate women.
"For the first time since coming here, I feel like I fit in with a group of outgoing, strong women," Pott said. "And it's really just a wonderful environment to be in and everybody there is just so open and out-there and gung-ho about everything."
The Rollers understand they should take part in improving the area.
"I think it's really important that people see that we want to be a part of this community--that kids can look up to us," Seedy said.
As they make their impact on the city and become more recognizable, the Rollers anticipate an influx of new faces to the team.
Tryouts for the upcoming season are in January, but newcomers may attend practice at any time.
There is advice from the team for those interested in trying out.
"You gotta get in there and try," Pott said. "It's about breaking down boundaries."
Greater civic visibility also means more opportunities to help, and the Rollers are excited to lend a hand.
"If there's anything that we can do from Burn City Rollers to help, contact us." Seedy said.
The Burn City Rollers can be contacted on Facebook and on their website, BurnCityRollers.com.
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