Look beyond the tough exterior of knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards and helmets and you’ll see some of the kindest hearts in Kosciusko County.

Never mind the intimidating names like L Bow Peep, Mouthy Magpie, Buckwyld Barbie and Brecken Urneck, these ladies are actually softies when it comes to their community.

The Lake City Roller Dolls, though each intimidating on her own four wheels, are really a group of gals who love to play hard for a cause. “Our mission is to help out in our community and raise money for charities through roller derby action,” said Megan “Mouthy Magpie” Dinse. “We pay to play and we give the proceeds from our bouts to local charities.”The Lake City Roller Dolls are a Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby League based here in Warsaw. Founded in the spring of 2010, the WFTDA Apprentice League team is earning a reputation both on the skating rink and in the community. With now two bouting seasons under their helmets, they are gearing up for this 2013 season, which officially begins Saturday, April 20.

With the season opener slated to happen at Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum, the Lake City Roller Dolls have been practicing extra hard to take on their rivals, the Fort Wayne Derby Girls. “After three years as a team we’re finally getting to play at the coliseum,” said Dinse, who explained the Fort Wayne Derby Girls will be hosting them by special invitation.

And while the team of women – whose ages range from early 20s to late 30s – are getting into some new moves in their twice weekly training sessions as they gear up for their new season, they are also always looking for community service opportunities.

Recently, the team donated blood and helped with the World Compassion Network Walk for Hunger. In January, they even took part in the annual Polar Plunge at Pie Eyed Petey’s where they collected $250 in cash donations and a pickup truck full of food for local food pantries.

And the Lake City Roller Dolls are always looking for more members, non-skating officials, referees and volunteers. And sponsors are also welcome as the women all have expenses in taking part in the sport. The team practices from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays at Eastlake Skate Center in Warsaw.

To learn more, check them out on Facebook.

In the meantime, mark your calendars to see the Lake City Roller Dolls in action on Saturday, April 20, at Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum; Monday, June 1, at the Eastlake Skate Center in Warsaw where they’ll take on the Region Rat Rollers from Hammond; and again on Saturday, June 15, in Bloomington where they’ll take on the Bleeding Heartland Roller Girls.

Do you want Stacey Page to help promote your organization? How about an upcoming event? Email [email protected] with your ideas.