Saultites pausing for a tattoo in support of Project Semicolon Sault Ste. Marie
SAULT STE. MARIE – This Friday an estimated 400 Saultites will be lining up at the Blueprint Ink Parlour on Trunk Road to get a semicolon tattoo in support of Project Semicolon Sault Ste. Marie.
“Project Semicolon SSM is a tattoo fundraising event in support of our hospital’s Mental Health and Addictions Unit and Canadian Mental Health Association (local),” says Melissa Cutler, event organizer. “I am hoping that we will raise enough money for them to be able to purchase a big screen TV for the unit.”
“The event basically got started with an idea I had. I have been a regular visitor to the Project Semicolon website for quite some time now. I find it’s a very motivational and uplifting website for people dealing with any form of mental illness. That’s what got me thinking about getting a tattoo of a semicolon. Then I started thinking, wouldn’t it be great if a bunch of people did the same thing and there was some way that the cost of the tattoos could go toward supporting our hospital’s Mental Health and Addictions Unit. So, I contacted Brad Dicandia, owner of the Blueprint Ink Parlour to see if he would consider helping out with something like this. Brad was very supportive of the idea right away,” explains Cutler.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to have the support of Brad and his staff at Blueprint Ink Parlour. There’s just no way this event would be possible without his generosity,” says a grateful Cutler. “He’s essentially donating his time and the time of his staff and the supplies for the entire day. When you factor in the costs of the time involved (not only doing the tattoo but in cleaning the equipment after each one) plus the ink, you can’t beat the price of $20.”
“Once Brad got on board, I posted the event on Facebook and it just took off from there,” says Cutler. “I couldn’t believe the overwhelming response I was getting from people. Not only was I getting people who were saying they wanted to get a tattoo but I was also hearing so many positive comments about how important this event is in raising awareness about mental illness.”
“We are also very thankful to have the Canadian Mental Health Association involved, Lisa Carricato will be available to answer questions and talk about mental health issues. Mental illness is exactly that, an illness and yet people are still afraid to talk about it. We need to eliminate the stigma that’s attached to it and instead, create more dialogue and to support it financially which, is what this Friday’s event is all about,” says Cutler.
If anyone is interested in participating in this event all they need to do is come to the Blueprint Ink Parlour, located at 21 Trunk Road, this Friday, July 24 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Rather than the usual booking of an appointment, the tattoos are being done on a first come, first serve basis.
Background Information
Project Semicolon (The Semicolon Project) is a faith-based non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury.
Project Semicolon exists to encourage, love and inspire.
For more information, visit the website at projectsemicolon