Since 1995, Stock Island resident Diane Beruldsen has championed female athletes by coaching flag football for girls and women, organizing the annual Key West Kelly McGillis Classic tournament and traveling the world to introduce the sport to developing countries, from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Nicaragua and El Salvador.
In April, Beruldsen spent three weeks in one of the poorest communities in Nicaragua, where families have no running water, no internet, no air-conditioning and sporadic electricity. But they have a church-run school that welcomed Beruldsen and a translator, who arrived with equipment and enthusiasm to spare.
“These girls were amazing to coach,” Beruldsen said. “They had never before played flag football and had never even seen NFL games on television or anything like that. But these young girls, ages 8 to 12, took to the sport immediately and were practically on autopilot, absolutely loving it.
“I would like our local girls who play flag football throughout the school year to meet these girls from Nicaragua and understand what their lives are like, how different they are, but also how similar in many regards,” Beruldsen said. “And so many of our young players here in Key West come from Spanish-speaking or bilingual homes that there could be some real connections made. So we’re trying to raise money now to bring a team of girls from Nicaragua over for our tournament in January.”
In trying to think of a fundraiser, Beruldsen came up with the idea of going door to door to sell an essential item — toilet paper.
Local hotels have agreed to donate cases of individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper, which the girls (accompanied by Beruldsen) will sell for $2 apiece.
“Who doesn’t need toilet paper?” Beruldsen said, adding that she will make digital payments via Venmo possible to accommodate people who want to donate, but who rarely carry cash these days.
So if you see a group of gals on your porch in the coming weeks, with a wheelbarrow full of toilet paper, answer the door. They’re there for a good cause. To learn more about women’s and girl flag football and the International Women’s Flag Football Association, visit iwffa.com.
