Eye Street Entertainment / 4-12-12

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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, April 12, 2012

Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com

Index Battle of the Badges ................................ 20 Greater Bakersfield Green Expo .............. 21 Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra ............22 Rise Against ............................................ 22 Fun Under the Son Car Show .................. 23 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 24 Shakespeare and King James .................. 27 Calendar .............................................. 29-31

Ink (and memories) forever Tattoo event honors those who have battled cancer BY CHERYL PORTER Contributing writer

I

t all started in an Arizona ICU hospital room on Sept. 14, 2007. Ondria Chavaz, 17, had been diagnosed just eight days before with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade 3, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Now she lay dying, surrounded by loved ones singing “Amazing Grace” while her sister, Jenn Stuart, performed a final act of love. Stuart, now 27, carries that memory with her. “She would always ask me to rub her feet, even though I have a phobia about feet,” Stuart said. “That last day, I was scared; the only thing I could think to do was grab the lotion and rub her feet; she was paralyzed, so she couldn’t even feel it, but it brought her comfort.” At the time, comfort was all Stuart could offer her sister. But in 2011 she created Ink for a Cure to raise money for her first American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life team, as a tangible way to honor her sister’s memory and fight cancer. It was a great success, bringing in more than $3,000. This year, the second Annual Ink for a Cure fundraiser will be held Sunday at American Traditional Tattoo in central Bakersfield. When Stuart asked owner Cory Pierce, 29, about having it at his shop, he wholeheartedly agreed. “Cancer is something that’s been around long enough,” Pierce said. “Let’s put an end to it.” He and his staff will donate their time and materials, asking a $25 minimum donation for each tattoo of the iconic cancer awareness ribbon, which will be no bigger than a silver dollar. Stuart’s mom, Donna Wruck, 53, of Bakersfield, has helped her daughter to build Ink for a Cure. Last year, she honored daughter Ondria’s memory with a gold and gray cancer awareness ribbon tattoo on her arm, the gold and gray representing childhood cancer and brain cancer, respectively. She said she is looking forward to this year’s Relay for Life, knowing it will hold special meaning because it starts May 5, Ondria’s birthday. “It’s very emotional to be on the grounds at RFL,” Wruck said. “Everyone has a common pain. It’s real hard when you’re a mother; you’ve walked the floor with them as babies but you can’t change the fact that they have a terminal disease. Cancer has no respect; my daughter never smoked, did drugs, or anything … it just pounced on her.” Stuart’s Aunt, Betsy Campbell, 52, volunteered at last year’s fundraiser. She said it was inspiring to hear people’s stories of why they were getting certain tattoos. “They were so moved, touched and

CASEY CHRISTIE / THE CALIFORNIAN

Jenn Stuart, center left, is putting together a Relay for Life fundraising event at American Traditional Tattoo Parlor with a little help from her friends. Back row, from left, are: shop co-owner Patrick Talburt; primary shop owner Cory Pierce; shop co-owner Todd Wiskirchen; and Stephan Smith. Front row, from left, are Missy Wilson and Stuart's aunt, Elizabeth Campbell.

Ink for a Cure What: Cancer awareness ribbon tattoos will be given for a $25 donation. When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Where: American Traditional Tattoo, 1820 Brundage Lane Information: Inkforacure.weebly.com or call Jenn Stuart at 431-3865 or Cory Pierce at 873-4017.

grateful to honor their loved ones that way, and to have the money go to the American Cancer Society; I will work on Ink for a Cure for as long as I’m able,” Campbell said. Nannette Wilson, 54, of Bakersfield, got her tattoo to honor her father, Leon Buford, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2009. “There’s no better way to honor and remember a loved one that has died of cancer than with a tattoo,” Wilson said. “It’s permanent. And if the money raised from these tattoos contributes to bringing a cure for cancer, that’s awesome.” Besides tattoos, hair cuts will be offered this year for a modest donation, plus barbecue, face painting, ice cream, a prize raffle and a free bounce house for the kids.

Jenn Stuart got a cancer awareness ribbon tattoo at last year’s fundraiser.

The team’s goal is to raise at least $5,000. In addition to fundraising, Stuart has found two more ways to honor her sister’s memory. One is a tattoo on her arm of Ondria, forever young and beautiful. The other is Ondria’s namesake, Stuart’s 3year-old daughter. Stuart discovered she was pregnant on her 23rd birthday, just one month after her sister’s passing. She named the child Ondria Hope. Stuart now hopes Ink for a Cure will make a growing difference in the fight

against cancer and is grateful for all the help and support she’s received, especially from Cory Pierce and the other tattoo artists. “My family and I can’t tattoo people; without everyone’s help and donations, none of this would be possible,” Stuart said. This year’s Relay for Life will take place May 5 and 6 at Wingspoint at Airport and Merle Haggard drives. To learn more about Relay for Life, go to relayforlife.org.


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