More than 80 people queue outside tattoo studio for fundraising Alzheimer's Society ink

CROWDS of people queued for hours to get commemorative tattoos and raise money for charity.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2018, 08:07 BST
Updated 29th Oct 2018, 09:15 BST
Emily Handley is tatooed by Paige Ord. Emily has also completed the Brighton Marathon this year and is entered for the London Marathon in April 2019, both in aid of the Alzheimer's Society. Picture: Duncan ShepherdEmily Handley is tatooed by Paige Ord. Emily has also completed the Brighton Marathon this year and is entered for the London Marathon in April 2019, both in aid of the Alzheimer's Society. Picture: Duncan Shepherd
Emily Handley is tatooed by Paige Ord. Emily has also completed the Brighton Marathon this year and is entered for the London Marathon in April 2019, both in aid of the Alzheimer's Society. Picture: Duncan Shepherd

Eclipse tattoo studio, in Fareham, hosted the event which saw people get forget-me-not flower tattoos for a £25 donation to the Alzheimer's Society.

Co-owner Shelley Stevens said when she turned up to the shop at 10am to start the event, there was a queue of people. By 2pm, more than 80 customers had got the little blue flower design.

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Two of those were mother and daughter Carol Baker and Sara Hill.

The forget-me-not flower being tattooed. Picture: Duncan ShepherdThe forget-me-not flower being tattooed. Picture: Duncan Shepherd
The forget-me-not flower being tattooed. Picture: Duncan Shepherd

Carol, from North End, was getting her first tattoo aged 72.

She said: '˜My husband Edward died two-and-a-half years ago from dementia so I am doing this for him.

'˜I am feeling okay about getting my first tattoo. It is nice to be able to do it with my daughter.

'˜I think it is a brilliant idea by the tattoo studio.'

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Simone Foster, from Southsea, waited four hours for the tattoo.

The 44-year-old nurse said: '˜I come into contact with dementia everyday with my job.

'˜I thought this would be a nice way to support the Alzheimer's Society.

'˜It is amazing to see the shop full with people wanting to get it done.'

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Mother and daughter Angela and Natalie Williams, from Stubbington, already have the dementia ribbon as a tattoo as Angela's mum has the condition.

They decided to get the blue flower to match.

Natalie said: '˜We are excited to get this done together and there has been a really lovely atmosphere.

'˜It is great to think so much money will be raised.'

As previously reported in The News, Shelley decided to do the event following the success of a similar fundraiser three years ago where they tattooed pink cancer ribbons.  

She said the turnout was a lot better than they expected and they were optimistic of raising more money than the previous charity event.

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'˜I couldn't believe it when I came to the shop and saw people queuing,' she said.

'˜We have had a constant flow of customers and the queue has hardly gone down.

'˜At one point I worried we might run out of stock because I didn't think we would have so many people.

'˜I couldn't even guess how much we have raised. 

'˜It shows how much people like the design and how many people from all walks of life are affected by dementia.'

 

Related topics:Carol BakerFarehamAlzheimer's Society