"Cancer Kills ~ Tattoos Heal" - I'm Forever Touched - Recounting the Weekend's Event
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Philanthropy is not easy. Success formulas aside, the conviction to organize and execute a successful fundraiser has to come from deep down. And that is precisely the sort of passion I can honestly say that my fellow Artists, Apprentice and their incredible wives along with our daughters possessed to make our "Cancer Kills ~ Tattoos Heal" project run so smoothly. I can't say, "thank you", enough to any of them. However, it's the collectors of all those pink and lavender (pink represents breast cancer awareness and lavender is for all types of cancer) ribbon tattoos that made the event so memorable and truly touching.
When Johnny had first suggested the idea of raising money for research toward a cure for cancer, I was onboard as my grandmother lost the battle to the disease when I was young. Junior agreed to design the poster and did a wonderful job of creating an image that incorporated our slogan coined by his wife, Margaret, with our positive healing message. As Renee and I began to garner sponsors for our endeavor, I became increasingly excited. Then, Johnny easily persuaded additional sponsors and as things culminated to the day of our event, I had become passionate about making a difference - for life. Life is so precious and beautiful that I strive for a hyperextended lifespan to enjoy it indefinitely. Diseases like cancer can cut this precious existence short. So, for those fellow individuals who appreciate life as I do, and greatly desire to fight the hideous disease, I was prepared with the desire of an olympic athlete to contribute all I could for a cure! But that was nothing to the way I would feel by the end of the weekend. By the time we arrived just before 9am Saturday morning, there were already enthusiastic people that had been outside our door since close to 7am for their pink ink. Last minute preparations were made and we went outside to inform the crowd, that had grown to extend down the block, of how we were going to proceed with the day's activities. Quickly, but efficiently, we started coloring the flesh of each person who patiently waited for the opportunity to commemorate a loved one or bring even greater awareness of the need for a cure. As I completed each ribbon, I inquired the reason why they were getting it. Each two inch ribbon came with a story. Those stories from the folks who waited as long as 10 hours tugged at my heart strings that had my eyes nearly welled several times. The most inspirational stories came from the survivors. Those individuals, like the fortunate characters in a "Saw" movie, truly appreciate lives on a level most can barely fathom. We continued to tattoo with only a few five minute breaks each until we realized that supplies were rapidly depleting. Despite the large number of establishments that neglected to leave our promo posters on display and the complete lack of interest by the local media (save "IN this Week Utah"), our preconceived notion that reaching a goal of tattooing 100 people as lofty was, in fact, the exact opposite. Apparently, our online campaign on Facebook created a subsequent, low-level, viral response which attracted more of a crowd than we anticipated. So, we took a short huddle and decided unflinchingly to honor our word to render the ribbons on all those who showed for the event on Saturday. We took names and assured each person that the following day our supplies would be replenished and their donations would be counted. Although we were exhausted, we reminded ourselves why we were doing this and that, "cancer doesn't rest, so why should we until the job was done?" Second winds were had and we diligently pursued our goal. By 8pm we had made it. Our totals were: 3 Artists, 19 Hrs Tattooing, 160 People Tattooed (some with 2 ribbons), Plus Some Extra Donations, $3,399 being donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for research toward a cure! No, I'm most certainly Not sick of looking at pink ribbon tattoos and would do 50 more tomorrow. I can honestly say that the experience has made a significant impact on me and I will never be the same. Candid photos and video footage was taken of the throng which bonded outside our shop and down a block of Historical Main Street Magna through personal accounts, a memorial balloon release, exchange of food and beverages, and an intense desire to make a difference. Indeed, philanthropy is not easy. But when a person or group finds a worthy cause that they can firmly stand behind, the reward is immeasurable. We found that cause. Although the theme and decor of our shop may be Horror, cancer is one real-life horror all of us at Art on You Studios wish to end. Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in and supported this event. Thanks to ALL of our sponsors! And Special Thanks and Kudos to: Renee, Johnny and Shasta, Charlie and Alyssa, Junior and Maggie, Sammy-Sue, Lexie, and Chloe for making this possible! Cheers to Life! Sincerely, ~Storm |
4.28.2010 at 3:28 PM
By the time I got to the end of this blog I was having a hard time reading through all the tears. I will always remember that day as the day I helped to fight a monster worse than anything Hollywood could produce. Hopefully one day we will be able to put an end to cancer and nobody will have to suffer the unspeakable agony that it causes to anyone it touches. Thank you again everyone that helped make this day possible!
4.29.2010 at 7:25 AM
Thank you for being a part of this event!