Jackson Free Press

"Do I have anything to wear?" I wondered. It's not an uncommon quandary I face, but this time, it wasn't in preparation for a night out or special event. This particular sartorial dilemma centered on what to wear to Laurel Park in Belhaven for football practice, as team captain Claire Barker instructed us that the defense should wear black and the offense white.

Yes, I said football practice. Pause a moment to let that sink in.

How did this come about? I asked myself the same question after the first practice as I checked for bruises. I never played competitive sports growing up, and I tend to avoid direct conflict. And while, like any Good Southern Girl, I love watching football, it's an entirely different experience to be on a field facing off against another girl—who obviously is competitive—running straight at you at full throttle. I don't care if it is just flag football; it's still pretty intense.

But back to why I'm doing this. It's pretty simple, really: A good cause and a fun group of girls can convince me to do just about anything within reason. This is the second year for Blondes vs. Brunettes Jackson, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association Mississippi Chapter. The premise is straightforward—a flag football game pits a team of blonde girls against a team of brunettes. (To answer the obvious question: Redheads get to choose their team.) All the participants raise money, and we hold fun parties along the way for "draft day" and "tailgating" leading up to the game.

Blondes vs. Brunettes is a big event in a number of cities around the country, and when my friend Beth Hamilton moved to Jackson, she decided that our city should have one, too. So last year, she and a committee of dedicated ladies made it happen, and a rivalry that will, hopefully, become a great annual tradition was born.

After having such fun last year and being on the winning team (go, Brunettes!), I had to sign up again this year. Which brings me back to practice. As I mentioned, I was concerned about what to wear. Other than my silver-and-pink cleats, I'm most excited about the fancy jerseys we get this year. I think if I lack skills in throwing and catching things, I can at least make up for it by looking good on the sideline.

Luckily for our team, we have some brunettes who are much more athletic souls than me. They never fail to impress me at practice, where our coaches—awesome guys who have volunteered with great enthusiasm to lead and teach us—are busy running us through our paces.

As we learn plays and raise funds, we're also making new friends and having fun. The smart, funny and interesting people who live in Jackson constantly amaze me, and this fund-raising competition is just one more way to meet some impressive young women. We're lucky to have them here in town, and I'm happy to get to know them. Like they say, there's no "I" in "team," and a friendly rivalry is a great way to foster bonding.

My team members from last year have remained friends, and we still hang out and go to happy hour together. It's fun to add even more girls to the group this year.

The big game is Saturday, June 2, at 10 a.m. at Jackson Academy (4908 Ridgewood Road, 601-362-9676). I do hope you'll come out and cheer us on, and then join us at the after-party at 6 p.m. at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St., 601-948-0888). $10 or your ticket stub from the day's game gets you in the door. Whether you're a guy or girl, blonde or brunette, all are welcome to join the fun and toast the winning team—though the real winner will be the Alzheimer's Association.

For more information, visit http://bvb.kintera.org/ms or the Blondes vs. Brunettes Jackson on Facebook.

Follow Julie on Twitter @jcskipp.