Ashfield Mario Kart tournament to raise money for ACLU

Darren Stallcup, left, of San Francisco, reacts as Nicholas Oehlberg, right, of San Francisco, documents the event as they play the Mario Kart World for Nintendo Switch 2 game with others at the Nintendo Store for a pre-launch event on Wednesday, June 4. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Published: 06-17-2025 12:16 PM |
ASHFIELD — A group of gamers is inviting the community to share in its love of Mario Kart and celebrate the release of the new game, all while raising money to support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Monstergirl Nerd Club is an Ashfield-based gaming club, social space and digital media studio. The club regularly hosts video game and board game nights, as well as occasional gaming tournaments to support various causes.
On Saturday, June 21, the club will host a Mario Kart tournament to support the ACLU. The tournament will begin at 11 a.m. with qualifying rounds, and the bracket tournament will begin at 5 p.m. and is expected to last until 8 p.m. The entry fee is $10, and all the money raised through entry fees will be donated to the ACLU. Additionally, the club is offering a $100 prize to the tournament’s winner.
“We’re looking to support the ACLU,” organizer Ashley Gamble said. “The ACLU is supporting the basic rights everyone needs right now. Not everyone can be on the front lines right now, but donating to the ACLU is a way to support a lot of the non-partisan work they’ve done over the years.”
Although it only relocated to Ashfield last year, the Monstergirl Nerd Club has been organizing game nights for more than 10 years from its former New York location.
The club is all about “having a place to recharge before going back out into the world,” Gamble said. The club typically welcomes 20 to 30 participants for each event, but can accommodate up to 100.
Gamble said attendees tend to mostly be members of the LGBTQ community, but the club welcomes everyone. She noted events are also geared toward adults, as attendees have been known to enjoy a drink while gaming.
“Hopefully we get a good turnout, play some games and raise some money,” Gamble said.
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The upcoming tournament is a celebration of Mario Kart World, which was released earlier this month. Attendees will be able to watch participants race while waiting for their own bracket, but they will also be able to peruse and play some of the club’s various board games. Participants are also encouraged to bring a dish for a potluck.
For more information about Monstergirl Nerd Club or the Mario Kart tournament, visit monstergirlnerdclub.com. Those who are planning to attend are asked to RSVP by emailing monstergirlnerdclub@gmail.com and organizers will respond with the event address.
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579.