Learning to love life as a Jedward fan not proving tattoo much for Mitch...
FUNDRAISER HAS POP DUO’S PORTRAIT PUT ON HIS ARM TO RAISE CASH FOR HOSPICE
MITCH Allen is learning to love life as a Jedward fan – after having the pair’s portraits tattooed on his arm!
While it’s not unusual for people to have their idols inked on their skin, Mitch didn’t really know much about the Irish pop duo before going under the needle.
He agreed to have the tattoo as part of his fundraising drive for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, based in Ash Green,
It all started when big-hearted Mitch, from Birmingham, signed up for the Strictly Christmas event for Zoe’s Place, in which 20 novices learned to dance for a fundraising ballroom show.
The Strictly Christmas event itself was a massive success – raising a staggering £64,000 – however Mitch went further in his efforts.
He devised a raffle whereby for each £10 donated, every person would get one chance to win the opportunity to design a tattoo for his arm.
After raising almost £1,000, Jane McGaffney, community fundraiser from the baby hospice, drew the name from the hat.
“When I heard the winner’s name being drawn I feared the worst,” Mitch admits.
“It’s not something I would have chosen for myself but it’s all for a great cause and I am just happy to have raised so much money for this great charity.
“To be honest I hadn’t really heard of Jedward before but I am slowly learning their songs and some are quite catchy.
“I’m something of a converted fan.”
After spotting a plea on social media, tattoo artist Alan Cooke from House of Pain on Walsgrave Road kindly offered to tattoo Mitch for free.
And on hearing he was just shy of a £1,000 in fundraising, Alan also made a donation of £30 to take Mitch’s total to an impressive £1,015.
“One of our customers called me and said, ‘Alan, you have to help out,’” he says. “I was only too happy to support when I heard it was for Zoë’s Place.
“Mitch is a brave man. It took a while to get our heads around it in the shop that someone would ask for a Jedward tattoo but it was fun and something different.
“We’ve never been asked to do anything like it before.”
“Alan did a great job,” says Mitch. “I did say not to make them too realistic but unfortunately for me he’s a talented guy and they look spot on.”
If you want to take on a challenge for Zoë’s Place, visit zoesplace.org.uk/Coventry