THE owner of a tattoo studio has encouraged people to have a permanent symbol of cancer awareness inked onto their body after his wife was diagnosed with the disease.

Lynne Wood, wife of Bob Wood who owns The Piercing Room in Darwen, was diagnosed with skin cancer three years ago.

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It has since spread to a number of organs and she has been told her illness is terminal.

The 47-year-old’s battle, and those of others they know, has inspired Mr Wood, 44, and his staff at the Bolton Road business to go on a fund-raising mission for East Lancashire Hospice and The Christie in Manchester.

The shop has been offering free cancer ribbon tattoos, in different colours to symbolise different cancers, in exchange for a small donation.

Mrs Wood, who spent three weeks at the hospice, had her skin cancer removed shortly after diagnosis but unfortunately it returned last December, affecting her organs.

She said: “There’s nothing I can do about it and each day that I wake up is now a blessing.

“My daughters, Natalie and Jade, have taken it really well and my eldest is now my carer. My grand-daughters, Demi and Sophie, are also handling it well with help from the hospice.

“The hospice needs all the money it can get and the amount they do for people is incredible. If I need pain relief again I don’t want to go to any hospital, I want to go to the hospice.

“The staff really care for you and think about you.”