Ladies' Arm Wrestling Fundraiser to Support Women and Girls with Disabilities

"Predictable" and "common" are not words one might use to describe social activities available to the public in Durham. See LUEWWD as an example.

On September 20^th, the League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham, or LUEWWD (pronounced “lewd”), will host LUEWWD XI: First in Fight, another in a string of theatrical women’s arm wrestling fundraisers that have raised nearly $60,000 for local organizations including Durham Connects, Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build, and Liberty Arts and the Scrap Exchange.

The event is set for  9:00 pm at Social Games and Brews and the beneficiary is Durham First In Families which offers support to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injuries, and their families. Funds raised through LUEWWD XI will directly help women self-advocates with requests such as medical equipment, accessible technology, developmental toys, car repairs, gas vouchers, guardianship costs, and camp fees. Doors will open at 7:30.

Want to see more funky and cool happenings like this? The Durham Event Calendar has them all.

Ladies' Arm Wrestling Charity Fundrasier Supports Habitat for Humanity of Durham

Some women bake cookies or run in 5Ks to raise money for good causes, but in Durham, some women arm wrestle. 

The League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham (LUEWWD - pronounced “lewd”) is partnering with Habitat forHumanity of Durham on Saturday, September 7^th, to raise funds toward its 2013 Women Build. The Women Build program empowers women to better their community and be leaders on the construction site by building a home in partnership with a hardworking family.

The September 7^th event LUEWWD IX: Nailin’ It!, which will take place at the Casbah at 1007 W Main Street in Durham, will feature eight new wrestlers including Big Mama Mayhem, Guillo Tina, Reba the Wrench, Sabrina Zero, and Work It Out Barbie. The doors will open at 7:30pm for pre-game activities, featuring the LIV’s food truck, cornhole, and Sam Adams products. General admission costs $5 and VIP tickets cost $25. The event is sponsored by The Boston Beer Company, The Casbah, Phunco, and MAYDNEW DJ & Event Planning.

Habitat for Humanity of Durham staff and volunteers, and LUEWWD volunteers will bring both fundraising strength and physical strength to the project. The groundbreaking date will be set soon (likely September), and the home will be built on Lutz Lane in a small Habitat community in east Durham. Lutz Lane was named in honor of the organization’s co-founder Worth Lutz. In June, Habitat for Humanity of Durham was one of 18 residential building companies to be named a National Green Building Standard Green Partner.

Those interested in donating to, volunteering for, or attending, this event, should email for more information. LUEWWD uses theatrical arm wrestling as a means of raising funds for projects and initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Durham community. More details are available at online.

Learn more about great community events in Durham and more with the Durham Event Calendar.

Ladies' Arm Wrestling Charity Fundraiser Supports Art Programming

Lewd women are usually not talked about in polite company.  In Durham, it's encouraged. LUEWWD women, that is.

The League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham (LUEWWD - pronounced “lewd”) is teaming up with Liberty Arts and the Scrap Exchange Saturday, April 20th for LUEWWD VIII: Industrial Strength, a ladies arm-wrestling charity fundraiser to provide scholarship funds for women and girls interested in taking select courses at either organization.

The LUEWWD VIII: Industrial Strength event will take place at 7:30 PM on April 20, 2013 at Liberty Arts Sculpture Studio, 923 Franklin St. Durham, NC 27701. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door. You can also purchase ringside tickets in advance for $25 by contacting luewwd@gmail.com.  All proceeds will benefit Liberty Arts and the Scrap Exchange. Food Trucks and beverages will be available (Chirba Chirba Dumpling, Liv’s).

Representatives from Liberty Arts and the Scrap Exchange want to expand art programming to reach girls and women who may have an interest in such skills like welding, glass blowing, or sculpture. Such resource intensive classes can be expensive and cost-prohibitive for many and the two organizations were looking for a way to broaden opportunity. That’s when Mike Lupa, an artist with Liberty Arts contacted LUEWWD.

Lupa had attended women’s arm wrestling fundraisers in upstate New York and knew that there were several leagues across the country, one of which was right here in Durham.  LUEWWD uses theatrical arm wrestling as a means of raising funds for projects and initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Durham community.  Lupa contacted LUEWWD organizers and submitted an application to become LUEWWD’s next beneficiary along with the Scrap Exchange. The application was accepted in October of last year and the three organizations (Liberty Arts, Scrap Exchange, and LUEWWD) have been planning this unique event since then.

Unlike previous LUEWWD events, this one will take place outside behind Liberty Arts in a space donated by the Cordoba Center for the Arts. This change in venue is an exciting one for the LUEWWD organizers and they are thankful for the support from local sponsors to make this event happen.

The April 20th event LUEWWD VIII: Industrial Strength will feature 8 new wrestlers such as Pippi Strongstockings, Betty Rumble, and Alotta Doe. The doors will open at 7:30 for pre-game activities featuring 2 food trucks (Chirba Chirba Dumpling and Liv’s) cornhole, and beverages. The event is sponsored by The Boston Beer Company - Twisted Tea, Cordoba Center for the Arts, ReUse Warehouse, Morgan Imports,  The Casbah, Phunco, and MAYDNEW DJ & Event Planning.

For more information about LUEWWD: www.luewwd.com
For more information about the Scrap Exchange: www.scrapexchange.org
For more information about Liberty Arts: www.liberty-arts.org

About Liberty Arts
Liberty Arts is a nonprofit arts community whose collaborative practice reflects the dynamic personality of Durham, North Carolina. Our mission is to expand access to three-dimensional art and share the skills required to make it.  All are welcome to take part through hands-on classes, public events, mentorships, and commissions.

About the Scrap Exchange
The Scrap Exchange is a nonprofit creative reuse arts center in Durham, North Carolina whose mission is to promote creativity, environmental awareness, and community through reuse.

For more information on the arts in Durham, click here.

Durham Arm Wrestlers to Raise Funds for Crisis Center

Durham is never at a loss for great entertainment.  Be it traditional, or not, there's always something interesting to see in the place where great things happen.  Tomorrow night is no different.

The League of Upper Extremity Wrestling Women of Durham (LUEWWD) heeded the recent call from Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC) for the public to help the non-profit raise $20,000 required to address the most immediate repairs needed for its crumbling facility. DCRC, the only agency in Durham County that works with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, will not make these repairs at a cost to the services they provide to families in crisis.

LUEWWD is a Durham-based group focused on raising funds for local nonprofits serving women and girls via the amazing spectacle of women's arm wrestling. LUEWWD has raised $23,000 since its inception in June 2010.

On June 16th at Fullsteam Brewery starting at 8:30 p.m., LUEWWD will host a fundraising event on behalf of DCRC.  It will be a local live viewing of SuperCLAW, a national ladies’ arm wrestling championship held in Charlottesville, VA. Eight arm wrestling leagues from across the US will be fighting to bring more pride and an equal share of the total funds raised back to their respective beneficiaries. Fierce yet comical, “Ze Dirty Butcher” will be representing Durham. The live-streaming of SuperCLAW begins at 9:00 p.m.

Admission is free. Donations are welcomed through a 50/50 raffle, “Buy a Shingle,” and auction of a SuperCLAW poster to be signed by the national arm wrestler. For a fair price, friends can challenge friends to accept the fate of the Moshi Moshi Stalemate Wheel, with chances to hula-hoop, thumb-wrestle or play full-body rock paper scissors. Attendees will also be able to challenge DCRC board members to a spin of the wheel. In addition, Fullsteam will donate $1 for every pint purchased.

“We were thrilled when LUEWWD offered to raise money for the structural repairs,” said DCRC Board Chair Ingram Hedgpeth. “The June 16th event will provide an opportunity for the Durham community to support an issue that pervades every neighborhood, largely unnoticed and unspoken, until an event like this focuses our communal compassion on families who have experienced domestic violence.”

More details about supporting the local party to cheer on DCRC and “Ze Dirty Butcher” are available at online. Learn more about DCRC and donate at here.