Rachel “ Rae ” Ford Cleveland has been attending Legends for six years now with her husband and family , traveling from Alabama to play the game and see their paintball friends . She says that it is more than just paintball for her . It is about family , and it is legitimate therapy .
“ We played our first event at Joliette , and when we came home and shared it with my nephews , they wanted to join in , too ,” she said .
The following year they came back under the banner of Marvel City Mofos , and it has grown each year to the point that their family in North Carolina is now coming as well .
“ It helps with my depression . It helps with my anxiety . And it helps keep me young ,” she said . “ I realized on day two , and I looked at my husband and said , ‘ I
Photo By Cheryl Ellis haven ’ t taken my anxiety meds in two days , and I ’ m doing just fine .’”
What makes Legends special over other paintball events is the familiarity , camaraderie and the impetuousness of the community as a whole .
“ There is freedom in it . You ’ re free to be whoever you want to be when you are there . It ’ s like DJ said to me once : ‘ You ’ re in a mask . No one knows who are anyway .’” Without fail , the camaraderie is pervasive both off and on the field .
“ The Blue commander , Jacob Easter , was so sweet and encouraging people all day ,” she said . “ At one point we were in a firefight and I heard him say , ‘ I ’ m not leaving y ’ all . Y ’ all don ’ t leave me .”
Her proudest moment of the weekend came at the final battle .
Paul Fogal ( right )
040 paintball . media magazine