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Art was not the only thing attracting visitors to the arts colony last Saturday at the Art Walk in downtown Pomona.
The first ever "Tattoos for the Cure" was held at Pomona's Ink'd Chronicles tattoo shop and raised more than $3,500 for the Lewis Family Cancer Care Center.

Hundreds turned out for the event to support breast cancer research.

The event was the idea of the tattoo shop's owner and former mayor of San Dimas, Terry Dipple.

"Three months ago, my fiancé was diagnosed with breast cancer and prior to that, I've been looking for an event that would mark the first anniversary of the tattoo shop and I really didn't have a real clear thing in mind to do," said Dipple.

"I thought it would be cool to do an event that would benefit [breast cancer victims]."

The event attracted a variety of people. From old to young, there was a wide range of people getting tattoos to honor those affected by breast cancer.

Many were waiting, including myself, waited for hours to get the pink ribbon tattooed, but the wait was worth it, especially to survivors of breast cancer.

"I am an 11-year survivor and I've been thinking about it for a long time, didn't really know where to go and I saw it in the paper, so I came in to get," said Debbie Rosei, a Glendora resident.

"It was horrible. My dad had cancer at the same time, we were going through chemo at the same time, but we made it."

The proceeds from the event were donated to the Lewis Family Cancer Center, which is located at the Pomona Valley Hospital.

"I went and talked to the marketing director of the cancer center and I said that I wanted to do a fundraiser at the tattoo shop and I wanted to call it 'Tattoos for the Cure,' and I thought it would be something that would raise awareness about breast cancer and reach a whole new demographic of young people," said Dipple.

Dipple told the cancer center that the fundraiser was not going to be a typical fundraiser.

"[There's not going to be] a bunch of older people in suits sitting around drinking chardonnay and they were fine with that. They thought that it was cool. They were very supportive," said Dipple.

Dipple first started publicizing the event six weeks ago and was immediately met with positive community reactions. Dipple had to hire another artist for the event due to the response.

"When I talked to people on the phone [to set up their appointments], there were a couple people that were telling me stories that were very touching and emotional that I got choked up on," said Dipple.

"Then the other day when I was with [my fiancé] at the doctors for her six-week check up, there was a lady there that found out that I was doing 'Tattoos For the Cure,' and she ended up coming today to get a tattoo and it was really touching to me."

Before the Lewis Family Cancer Care Center was opened, people in the Inland Empire had to drive long distances to get quality cancer treatment.

It first opened its doors in 1993 and has been helping cancer patients ever since.
It is also affiliated with the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.