Stoddard County girls join Cape Roller Derby Smackdown V Proceeds benefit Hope Children's Home

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Three amigos: Carrie DeArman, alias Molotov, Kristen Rapert, alias Bruise Fairy, and Kristin DeJournett, alias Fakin' Bacon take a moment to smile at the crowd.

The A.C. Brase Arena building in Cape Girardeau was a kid-friendly place on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, as the Cape Girardeau Roller Derby Girls held their fifth annual "Smackdown" to benefit the Hope Children's Home.

Cape Roller Derby girls come from several counties around the region, including Stoddard County. Bloomfield resident Carrie "Molotov" DeArman and Advance resident Kristin "Fakin Bacon" DeJournett are among girls from Chaffee, Sikeston, and Oran, who make the trip to Cape Girardeau several times a week to practice the skills necessary to compete in this rigorous contact sport. They come from all walks of life.

"I've been skating since I was a little kid," says DeJournett. "I used to talk my mom into driving to the Advance park, so I would have a paved place to skate. We took my little dog with us, and she would run around the park on a leash with me."

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net DeJournett, the jammer, breaks through a line of blockers.

Advance resident Michelle "Muse" Ford is also a member of the Cape Roller Girls, though she did not compete in the recent event.

The "Smackdown" event is DeJournett's first match, after spending over three months in training.

"I especially like the way the Cape Roller Derby contributes to the community," explains DeJournett. "A portion of the proceeds for this event were donated to the Hope Children's Home, and those kids were on hand to watch us and to participate in the booths set up for children."

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Bruise Fairy wades into the action to block a jammer, as the referee keeps a close eye on the group. Kristen Rapert, alias Bruise Fairy, is a Sikeston member of the Cape Roller Derby.

Children made dinosaur footprints at the Bollinger County Museum of Natural Science booth and bookmarks at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center booth. Lazy L Safari brought a tarantula and a turtle for the kids to see.

Though the roller derby girls will continue to train year round and attend seminars, there will be no more matches until next year.