Almost midnight, local Denton Band Smothered Ripped on guitars and shouted in microphones in an exhibition of passion for the crowded crowd at the Beat Endo Show, a benefit show that supports those affected by endometriosis.
All the research for everything is men first, and it's ridiculous, Taylor Watt, University Alumna and Lead singer from Smothered said. I cannot emphasize enough how little research is being done for women's bodies.
Smothered was one of the six bands that performed House in Harvest House on March 28. University alumna and local music booker Nikki Bolden organized the benefit show by working together with the Endometriosis Foundation of AmericaUsually called endofound, to increase consciousness for the disease.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that causes severe pain, as well as potential infertility and hormonal disruptions as uterus tissue grows outside the organ.
The Beat Endo Show ran from 8 p.m. to almost 1 hour and showed six live versions of local bands led by women, including DJ Kanesha, Remy Reilly, Robyn HarrisLady Winters, smothered and Chicken and the cocks. Bolden opened the benefit show with a mission statement and a definition of endometriosis.
The 25-year-old Bolden has worked together endometriosis Since she was 12 years old. By a partnership with Endofound, Bolden hopes to raise money, train the audience and help others get answers through an evening full of music and informative pleasure.
Music is the thing that always helps me with this, and this is what I always do, so why wouldn't you do it for a goal this time, Bolden said.
Bolden said she is forced to plan her life on endometriosis, so she works full -time to part -time.
I have to find ways to make it work instead of planning it, said Bolden. That is what I used to do, but I tried to embrace it and accept that it is part of my life.
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women in the US and 200 million women worldwide, according to the National Medicine Library. Although there are treatments, there is no known cause or healing for the disease. Due to a lack of financing, consciousness and training, women can go according to the right diagnosis for decades YaleDrug.
Participants of the Beat Endo Show can learn about endometriosis by pamphlets that were placed around the bar and donating to endofound by scanning QR codes. Moreover, $ 1 of every drink sold during the show went to Endofound.
Union Bear Brewing, another local bar, also raised money for the cause by matching each dollar that is given during the show.
Bolden said that an estimated $ 300 was served via the QR codes, but that the official amount collected by the sale of drinks is still counted. Hundreds of people attended the Beat Endo Show, so Bolden hopes that it was a successful night that collected money and consciousness.
Remy ReillyA solo act during the show, this sentiment shared. Reilly lives with Polycystic Ovary SyndromeA hormonal condition that led her to use her music as a platform to argue for more health research for women.
I know that I am trying to do something about it and use my favorite thing to help, Reilly said.
Endofound helped folds answers after being diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 21. Bolden said that getting a diagnosis took a long time because many doctors were not aware of the condition and said she had to wait or claimed that she just had fear.
Bolden said that this rejection represents how women in the medical world are treated.
People don't talk about it and that simply leads to a cycle that leads to more confusion and more rejection of doctors, said Bolden. And then you don't know how to argue for yourself, because you don't know what to say or what questions you should ask.
25-year-old Allie Winters is the singer of Lady Winters And Bolden's best friend. Winters said that supporting Bolden via the Beat Endo show was important and that their friendship made her realize that she had to take the lead over her own health.
I hope people have fun and learn a lot about Endo, said Winters. Just like doing the show and being friends with Nikki, I realized that I had to go to the doctor.
After experiencing painful menstrual cycles and to fight an ovarian cyst in the past, wins winters to find answers and suspect that she might also have endometriosis.
Bolden said she wants people to know that it is good to talk about being sick. She says that in this way it was vulnerable to her to cure emotionally and help others.
Even if you think nobody cares about your own personal things that you have, it helps other people, Bolden said.
