Even though it is a bruising sport, Blythe Winchester, a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, discovered that roller derby could help her to take better care of herself and others. Winchester joined the fledgeling Smoky Mountain Roller Girls in 2011.
“We didn’t know if people in this area would support roller derby,” said Winchester, “It’s not your typical intramural soccer league.”
However, community support grew along with the team, and learning to fight for success on the track has helped Winchester learn to fight for what she believes in at her job.
For more about the health of the community, read Caring for Community by Sonya Wachacha, Director of Nursing at Cherokee Indian Hospital.