What is The Bizarre Bazaar for Cancer?

It’s an event born of the fact that cancer totally sucks and supporting local artists and designers (like myself) is awesome.

In March, a college friend/roommate was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. She is 30 years old.

Feeling utterly helpless, I wanted to do something to show her support, but had absolutely no idea where to start or what I could do that would actually make a difference.

When I had the idea to get some other local artists and designers together, to show and sell their products and pieces at an event, it became pretty clear that this event wasn’t going to be entirely about us. It was the perfect way to raise some money for cancer research, and selfishly, a way that I could feel less helpless towards my friend.

She travels to MD Andersen every two weeks to battle her cancer, that had spread to her liver by the time they diagnosed her (no symptoms other than she felt kinda sicky). She’s got an incredible attitude and if the situation were different, she would travel here and drink us all under the table.

This is why I chose Gateway for Cancer Research to partner with and receive the donations we raise. They focus on colon and ovarian cancer research and create treatments and trials that can be done on patients fighting cancer TODAY. They are also 100% against animal testing. In other words, they’re great people doing great things.

If you’re here in Phoenix, stop by, donate your $5 at the door and shop some local designers and artists you may have not even known were here in your own town. Enjoy a beverage or two on us, and meet some people who also think that cancer sucks enough to want to help fight it.

If you want to contact me, I’m Erin Atherton, Head Bag Lady, at Durtbagz.com.