Edmonton tattoo artists launch fundraiser for Ukraine aid organization
Edmonton tattoo artists have come together to offer a variety of Ukrainian-themed flash pieces and a silent auction to raise funds.
Jen Danger, owner of Enchanted Tattoo, and John Faulds, owner of Urge 2 Tattoo Studios, organized the Hold Fast for Ukraine event.
Tattoos are going for a minimum of $100 with several pre-made designs. All proceeds go to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, an organization on the ground in Ukraine helping deliver medicine, shelter, and aid to displaced civilians.
Danger, who is of Ukrainian heritage, told CTV News Edmonton that she was devastated to hear the news of the Russian invasion.
"Obviously, with things that are happening, I honestly was tired of sitting in my car and feeling helpless," Danger said. "I know that I have the means to maybe make a little bit of difference."
The silent auction is available on Instagram and features several items, including a tattoo removal package from The Removery.
"It's got a value of up to $2,500, so we are hoping that we will raise some funds here and we can get that money as part of the help to the people of Ukraine," said Ben Alway, owner of The Removery.
"We're seeing more and more of what is going on, and it's really impossible not to be moved," he added. "They need money, they need supplies, and they need help. That's something we can do here to do our part."
Faulds said it was an easy decision to get involved with the fundraiser.
"It's a pretty heavy-duty thing that's going on over there right now," Faulds said. "It's a tragedy.
"As we sit over here in North America," he added, "it feels like we need to kick in and help out."
Danger says there has been steady interest in the fundraiser throughout Thursday.
"I am really excited," she said. "Everyone's been so supportive."
For those who want to support the fundraiser but not a tattoo, Danger says a GoFundMe has been created.
"I am so touched by the kindness and the generosity from our clients," she added.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Carlyle Fiset
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.