The Rollin' Rockies wheelchair softball team hosted its first fundraiser for the year at Johnny's New York Pizza in Lakewood on June 23, the day after restaurant owner John Keiley made good on his promise of offering free pizzas all day long should the Colorado Rockies sweep the New York Yankees. As an advid New York Mets fan, Keiley was happy to do it, serving up thousands of free pies on a Friday.

The prior "free pizza" day did not deter the Rollin' Rockies from hosting a successful fundraiser at Johnny's on Saturday. The event was the brainchild of Keiley who had an interest in helping Colorado's only wheelchair softball team raise funds for travel. Keiley's idea was to open up his restaurant to everyone that the Rollin' Rockies could invite and offer all-you-can-eat pizza for a small donation to the team. He let the Rollin' Rockies set the price and Keiley donated all the pizza, pop, labor and overhead at the restaurant.

The Rollin' Rockies gainedmore than$1,500 from the fundraiser through $5 donations at the door as well as through larger donations on their website. The money raised will help the team travel and compete in the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament to be held in St. Paul, Minn., this August 23-25. The Rollin' Rockies are currently ranked 12th of the 43 teams that make up the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA).

In addition to the initial fundraiser, the Rollin' Rockies will play Johnny's New York Pizza in a game of wheelchair softball at Jason Jennings Mile High Adaptive Field in Lakewood (tentative location) on July 29. The Rollin' Rockies will provide the wheelchairs while Keiley's staff members will play in the game as well as deliver pizza to the field. The event is open to the public and a small suggested donation will be asked from those who wish to participate in the all-you-can-eat pizza at the game.

The Rollin' Rockies are supported in part by the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club. The Major League Baseball team allows the NWSA-sanctioned team to use its name and provides logistical support, hats and jerseys. All funding the Rollin' Rockies receive are through donations from the community. Now in its 11th year, the Rollin' Rockies are gearing up to start a program for kids and will use a portion its funds to host instructional clinics at Jason Jennings Adaptive Field in Lakewood for children who are wheelchair users. For more information about the Rollin' Rockies wheelchair softball team, or to make a donation, visit the team's website at: www.rollinrockies.com. 

Photo by jeffbutlerphotography.com