SoulCase Tattoo Shop’s second annual Kids 4 Cancer tattoo mixer was a raging success, bringing in exactly $13,000 for Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta, May 24.
Seven tattoo artists from Central Alberta completed 93 cancer-related tattoos at a reduced price. Customers chose from 15 designs that were able to be completed in 15 to 25 minutes, allowing a maximum amount of people to come and go.
“People love cheap tattoos, and the more you can get through the shop in a day, the more awareness and the more money one raises,” said SoulCase owner Jesse Dolphin.
Dolphin emerged from the event looking slightly different than usual, having shaved the ponytail-length hair he’s had for the past 17 years.
He did that through the Kids Cancer Care Foundation’s Shave Your Lid for a Kid fundraising initiative.
“It feels like I’m about ten years younger,” he said. The chopped-off hair is being sent to Ottawa, where it will be processed into a wig.
Last year’s event raised about $7,500 through 65 tattoos completed. With three artists at that time, a number of customers had to be turned away. Having more artists this year helped greatly, according to Dolphin.
“It made it a lot easier,” he said, adding there were more than 150 people on the shop’s premises at one point during the day.
Local businesses offered a hand by donating a variety of items to the event.
In light of its immense success, Dolphin is already looking forward to holding it again next year.
“I just have to figure out how to top it,” he said. “We were pretty stoked and everyone had a super, super great time.”
More from the event, including a before-and-after picture of Dolphin’s haircut, is available on the SoulCase Tattoo Shop & Art Gallery Facebook page.