As many of you will already know, earlier this year, we lost Kraken
Studios' co-founder Aly after several battles with cancer. Aly was not only my
mother, but the adopted "studio mother" for all the Kraken Studios
boys and a recognisable and much loved figure in the community

A few years ago, she, with the help of the fantastic services of the NHS
Aly had managed to fend off cancer's first attempt. However, it was to return not
long after. Her last battle was to prove particularly aggressive and for the
last 7 months of her life we were given the heartbreaking news that this would
be a fight that she couldn't win. This time it would be terminal.

During those months Aly, and all of those closest to her, benefited
greatly from many of the outstanding charity services available to families in
such bleak situations. From the volunteers at the Beatson, who managed to keep
such high spirits in spite of the tragedy they must witness daily. To the
hospice volunteers who would drop by her house in the last few months of Aly's
life to make sure she was as comfortable as she could possibly be. There are so
many people and so many charities and organisations to thank for the
ridiculously selfless and often unheralded work they carry out on a daily
basis. Not only for the patients, but for the care of the families as well.

We knew not long after Aly's passing that we would have to do something,
no matter how small, to give a little back to those who have helped, and at the
same time to celebrate her life. We've chosen to run a fundraising day in the
shop for Macmillan Cancer Support. It could have been for any number of equally
deserving charities, but Macmillan were there right at the end and the work
they do to keep so positive with people in the grimmest of circumstance.....I
can't even begin to understand how they do it. Proper superhuman stuff.

So aye, on Saturday the 22nd of September we will be holding a charity
tattoo day at Kraken Studios, in honour of Aly and to raise as much money as we
can for Macmillan Cancer Support. The boys will all be tattooing walk-in
tattoos from set flash sheets at very reasonable prices, as well as tattooing
purple hearts for anyone wanting something to remember Aly by. There will be
something for everyone, and a good few fun ones in there which Aly would have
completely approved of. All proceeds of which will go straight to Macmillan.

We'll also be running a raffle which will be drawn at the end of the working
day on the 22nd. Tickets for which can be bought in the shop in the weeks preceding
the charity day. Just pop by anytime and one of the guys will sort you out with
tickets :) We'll post more information on the prizes when we know what they'll
be (hint hint....we're accepting donations for raffle prizes...nudge
nudge)....But the top prize is certain, it's gonna be £350 worth of tattoo vouchers,
enough for a full day sitting. Not bad eh!

There will be more updates to come, but for now I'll leave you with the
link to our Justgiving page for anyone wishing to donate to a great cause.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/krakencharity

....Oh,

I failed to mention...

If we hit 4 figures with donations....I'm shaving my head. Right
down to the wood :) (hair will be donated to a children's cancer charity to
make wigs for kids going through chemotherapy)

Thanks for taking the time to read

Now get your pockets emptied :)