Needle-phobe Martin grins and bears it to aid hospice

Martin Jones has a Dr Kershaw Hospice tattoo at Brass Knuckles Tattoo's by Andy Deblasio

A MAN who is terrified of needles says he is delighted with his new tattoo after volunteering to get inked for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

Martin Jones had the hospice’s logo etched on to his arm at Royton’s Brass Knuckles Studio, despite needles bringing him out in a cold sweat and panic.

But the Oldham electrician volunteered to undergo the permanent procedure as a thank-you to Dr Kershaw’s after staff there cared for his sister, Christine Stott (60), before she died in April.

Martin, of Overdale Close, Oldham, said: “To begin with I was shaking and very scared as I sat down in the chair for the tattoo.

“But I was lucky that the lad who did it, Andy Deblasio, talked me through the first 30 minutes and kept me calm.”

He has so far raised £1,000 in sponsorship money but is hoping that total will grow this weekend as 14 of his friends will be waxed at the Old Grey Mare Inn, Royton, on Sunday.

A full-day music event, that Martin is organising with Philip Jones and Emma Woods, will also take place at the pub on Sunday, August 31, 1-11pm, with all money raised going to Dr Kershaw’s.

For more information, visit the website www.lifenotesuk.net

Anyone who wants to sponsor him can do so through lifenotes.uk.net or on his facebook page, or call in to the Old Grey Mare and ask at the bar.

You can also email him at mrj2911@ntlworld.com
To read the full version of this story see the Chronicle’s E-chron digital edition or buy the newspaper.