Three Sioux City Roller Dames To Skate Across South Dakota To Raise Money For M.S.

Note: Skinnerella of the Sioux City Roller Dames is the author of this piece. This is a very cool idea.

Some of you may have already heard about the three members of the Sioux City Roller Dames who are skating across South Dakota to raise awareness, and cash, for the North Central States Chapter of the MS Society. If not, allow me to enlighten you. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can severely debilitate those who suffer from it. It strikes perfectly healthy people of any race at almost any age, and affects the way a person moves, thinks and feels. The goal of Sk8 the State for MS is to teach people about this devastating disease and recruit more troops in the fight to eradicate it.

Three of our favorite Dames, Mo Payne, Dubbs and PBR will spend seven days skating 290 miles from border to border, covering the beautiful (and excruciatingly hilly) state of South Dakota. Their only support will be one vehicle and two volunteers, who will carry their food, water, equipment, band-aids and tents. The skaters expect this journey to be one if the most difficult, and most rewarding endeavors of their lives.

The route is rough, which skaters know is going to eat up a lot of wheels, stops and pads. Many of our derby brothers and sisters have stepped forward with offers to help and we continue to be grateful for all you have done, but we still need your help. In addition to donations of money, which go directly to the MS Society, the skaters are asking for donations of new and barely used equipment. How bad would it suck to grind down your only toe stops 100 miles into the trip? Let’s keep these great ladies rolling through to the last mile!

Sk8 the State would also like to invite all of their eight-wheeled friends to join them on September 4 for the final 15-mile push. You will roll out at 12:00 noon, from the weigh station at the intersection of Hwy 81 and SR 46, just a few miles west of Mayfield (you can email for more detailed directions), and end the trek at the state line in Yankton, SD. Sk8 the State asks that skaters make a donation of $20 to the MS Society; your donation will get you free admission to the after party, potluck dinner and concert in Gayville, SD and they’ll reserve you a spot at the campout that night. Great time, great friends, great cause: what more could a gristly derby gal or guy want?

If you’d like to be a part of the journey, please register via phone or email by August 15, or, to donate cash or equipment, contact Melissa Dittberner (you may know her better as Mo Payne) at 605-661-1113 or sk8thestate@hotmail.com. Any monetary donations should be payable to Sk8 the State for MS, and mailed directly to Sk8 the State for MS, c/o Melissa Dittberner, PO Box 175, Gayville, SD 57031, or you can make donations at any Wells Fargo Bank branch to the Sk8 the State for MS fund.


Note: Here is the map of the route they are taking.