By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org
The owner and manager of Meteor Ink House de Tatuadora, a long-time tattoo and body piercing shop on Division Avenue in Grand Rapids, have not seen any cases of Lyme Disease in their establishment — despite a known connection between even mild body stresses such as tattooing and flair-ups of the disease.
But that did not deter Andrea DeLeon, owner and head tattoo artist of the Meteor Ink, or store manager and piercing artist Bradford Logan from supporting a cause by joining with the national non-profit Lyme Warrior and the group’s “Ink to End Lyme 2019” awareness and fund-raising campaign this month.
The result was that on Feb. 9, Meteor Ink held a community awareness day when donations from the shop and tattoo and piercing clients went to the Lyme Warrior project and Lyne Disease information was available.
“We have not seen any (in our community), and it is a good thing that we haven’t, because it means that lyme disease is not affecting that part of the community (urban tattoo and piercing fans) the same way it could be affect a more rural community,” Logan said to WKTV. “… But we know it is out there.”
Doing community awareness events is nothing new to Meteor Ink; in March they will have an ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) fundraiser in fact, and that is just another of many community involvement aspects of DeLeon and Logan’s shop.
“We offer cost-free coverups on any sort of gang-related or racist (tattoos), breast cancer scars, self-harm victims — we’ll cover any of those things for free,” DeLeon said.
During February, more than 32 shops will or have hosted a day of awareness to raise funds for Lyme Disease, according to information supplied by Lyme Warrior. Contributions will go toward research for a cure.
“This campaign has been a huge success in the past, not only in funds raised but awareness being brought to a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of Americans but is rarely talked about,” Sarah Zahran, Lyme Warrior volunteer, said in the supplied material. “Some of the (tattoo and piercing) artists who supported the campaign are Lyme fighters themselves, have had family affected or pass from this disease, or are just sympathetic to the suffering.”
Lyme Disease is a condition “surrounded by misinformation and now has reached epidemic levels in our country because of inaccurate testing, poor treatment options, and controversy,” Zahran says. “Because of these issues, millions face misdiagnosis, lack of coverage or adequate treatment, and severe health issues, even death. With more awareness and funding, we can put a stop to this.”
For more information about the Lyme Warrior effort, visit lymewarrior.us .
For more information about Meteor Ink House de Tatuadora, located at 441 Division Ave, SW, visit their Facebook Page.
