Big Easy Tattoo in Broomfield giving pink ink to fight cancer

Big Easy Tattoo in Broomfield giving pink ink to fight cancer
Article by: SlingerVille Staff
October 05, 2012

Last week, Big Easy Tattoo opened their doors to people that wanted to come in for free pink ribbon tattoos for charity.

Ryan Hewell, tattoo artist and Big Easy Tattoo shop owner, learned that his mother had breast cancer and he wanted to do something to help.

Hewell organized a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen For the Cure and other cancer charities by inviting everyone to his shop to get pink ribbon tattoos.

Tattoo artists volunteered their time to ink pink ribbons from Tuesday to Saturday. The tattoos were free of charge in exchange for a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or another cancer-related charity.

Hewell said the event was a way to reach out to those affected by cancer, but also a way to cope with his mother's sickness.

"I never had a family member struggle with something like this before," Hewell said. "And for it to be my own mother, no less."

Cancer has affected many people in Hewell's life, according to BroomfieldEnterprise.com. He hosted a similar charity when his friend, Deandra Trevino Salem, found out she had Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She passed away last year, after battling the disease for almost four years.

"She was such a trooper," he said.

Though the fundraising idea is not new, Hewell said it feels different now that he knows his mother has cancer.

"It really opened my eyes and showed me I needed to do more to help," he said.

Hewell said he will donate money to a cancer charity of choice, but he expects most of the donations to go to Komen.

“This year, the Komen Denver Metropolitan Affiliate chapter raised $2.5 million to spend on 19 projects that will provide more than 12,000 breast health and breast cancer services to low-income and uninsured women.”

Hewell said his mother recently began chemotherapy treatments and is doing well, because she learned she would need fewer treatments than she initially thought. Although his mom will not make it to the October 7th Race For the Cure event in Denver, Ryan and his twin sisters, Robin and Renee, will be there.

Hewell said his mother has been a big cheerleader for Komen and for the tattooing event.

"She said, 'I don't want any of this money coming to me. Give it to people who need it the most,'" he said.

Source: http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/broomfield-news/ci_21653318/big-easy-tattoo-broomfield-giving-pink-ink-fight

Comments
No comments yet.