Tattoos For a Cause Photo Contest 2011 Winners

The Fight Like a Girl Club is happy to announce the Winners of the Fight Like a Girl Club Tattoos for a Cause Photo Contest 2011. The Contest which ended at midnight EST on Monday, September 12, drew 158 entries ranging from beautiful butterflies to picturesque art to loving tributes to stunning awareness ribbons.  Fight Like a Girl Club Founder, Sandy Ellis, says “I couldn’t be happier with our very first photo contest. I think our members and fans enjoyed reading the stories and meanings behind the tattoos as much as they enjoyed viewing the tattoos. While we could only have 3 “Winners” every single entrant is a winner as far as we’re concerned!”

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL CLUB TATTOOS FOR A CAUSE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

	My Anchor Last year my mom & i were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout a double mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemo, and watching my MOM go through the same battle, I realized that I’m really freaking strong. I found this inner strength that I didn’t know existed. And i got to know all these wonderful, strong women across the country who have battled or are battling this disease. I felt like I was the anchor holding everyone together throughout everything – because if my kids or my husband, or my mom saw that i was scared it would be too much for them to handle. The roses are for my 2 beautiful little girls, Camryn and Lia, who unfortunately have huge risks to face when they get older as I found out, through genetic testing, that I am a carrier for a gene mutation that is responsible for causing breast cancer. There is a pink ribbon on the top of the anchor where, traditionally, the rope is. The anchor is splashing in the water, but you can see the sun shining brightly up above signifying hope. This was done by the extremely awesome Zaq Weaver at Conception Gallery in St. Joseph, MI.
From Sacrifice, Life On August 12, 1999, when I was 18 years old, my life changed – for the better. After two years on dialysis while in high school, I received a call that there was a kidney available for me. I have never lost sight of the fact that every August 12 while I am celebrating an anniversary of new life, there is a family out there mourning the death of their loved one. I know very little about my donor, other than the fact that he was 20 years old and was taken too soon by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting incident. He unknowingly paid the ultimate price so that I might live. I got this tattoo on August 12, 2011 to commemorate the life of my donor. While I endured quite a lot of pain getting this on my right hip (next to my transplant scar – visible in the picture), it is nothing compared to the pain of losing a son, a brother, a friend. “From sacrifice, life 8-12-99.”
	God’s Plan I was diagnosed with Stage 3 ER+ breast cancer at the age of 28. Went through 8 rounds of chemo, surgery and then radiation. 1 month shy of my 2 year mark, I was re-diagnosed. This time I had a double mastectomy and a year of herceptin. My originial tattoo was just the cross, ribbon and scripture Jeremiah 29:11. All through the first battle, this was the scripture that kept popping up with my mother and I and we soon realized that God was telling us that he did in fact have a plan. Within the last 4 years I have seen 3 close friends go through breast cancer and thankfully they have survived. I have added the cherry blossom tree with 4 additional ribbons symbolizing how I have grown with Hope and my trust in God. (Hope, Believe, Faith & Trust).

This article is intended to convey general educational information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.