P.INK

Sunday evening, I guess this marks the passing of another week, and more importantly weekend. So before you all get your PJs on and set your alarms for the week ahead, why not take some time to read today's post? This time it illustrates how body art not only decorates us, but even completes us when we feel like something is missing.

"P.INK started out with a modest goal: inspire survivors with design ideas and connect them with experienced tattoo artists who can help them move on."

As we are all too aware, cancer affects thousands of us every year. Though many of us survive the scars will still remain as a permanent reminder. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and affects "around 55,000 women every year." (Breast Cancer Care) Many women are also believed to be at high risk of contracting the illness and so a mastectomy is the only option for many, leaving a woman with a missing breast(s) and confidence in pieces. 

That's where P.INK comes in: I'm sure you've all heard of tattooing a "fake" nipple on the reconstructed breast, (in many cases the nipple is unable to be preserved) a genius idea if you ask me. P.INK not only does this, they go beyond the call of duty with ideas designed to help their client overcome their ordeal.

Noel Franus, a man with no tattoos himself, was left helpless after learning his sister-in-law Molly was diagnosed with breast cancer. He was also pained to hear she'd lost her self confidence after battling the illness. It was here he decided he'd fix that for Molly and other women, in the form of tattoos. Franus explains, "It began with a Pinterest board with a curated collection of breast, chest, and nipple tattoos. Then the group started to solicit design submissions, reached out to tattoo artists, asked people to share their stories, and eventually filmed the seven-hour experience of Molly getting her Brazil-inspired tattoo."

P.INK Pintrest page, Image from http://artthreat.net/2013/10/p-inktattoos/

Molly during her 7 hour tattoo. Image from http://artthreat.net/2013/10/p-inktattoos/

After Franus' inspirational endeavour, Molly, like other women are no longer hindered by their scars and instead can't wait to show off their beautiful body art. October this year even saw the couple have their first P.INK tattoo day in NY, where 10 of the city's best artists tattooed 10 breast cancer survivors. One of these women even said to Franus, "It will be something beautiful to look at. It’s like it comes full circle. I've been to counseling, but nothing is going to help as much as this."

So there you have it, where surgery fails, a tattoo prevails.

Lauren x

Watch the promotional video @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pGbWH-hy4UM

Visit the website @ http://www.pinterest.com/personalink/