My Friend Chris Needs Us Right Now

I've known Chris for years. The kind of guy who, when you need something, doesn't ask questions — he just shows up. He tattoos. He runs boat tours. He hauls supplies to ships. He works three jobs because sitting still feels like giving up, and Chris doesn't give up. On anything. On anyone.

Last week, he walked into the ER not feeling great. He probably figured he'd be home in a few hours.

Instead, they found a rapidly growing glioma — a brain tumor — on his pineal gland. Within days, he had a brain biopsy and fluid drained from his brain. He starts chemotherapy and radiation immediately.

I'm not going to sugarcoat this. This is serious, and the timing couldn't be more brutal.

Chris and his wife are both small business owners. They've built everything they have with their own hands. And then Hurricane Helene hit Asheville, and it destroyed their tattoo shop. Just — gone. They've been quietly clawing their way back from that ever since, carrying a financial hole most people couldn't fathom, without a word of complaint. That's who they are.

And now this.

Their health insurance isn't built for something like this. The income that keeps their household alive stops the moment treatment starts. The bills don't get that memo. Utilities. Groceries. Insurance. The cost of a household that has to keep functioning while its foundation is fighting for his life.

Chris and his wife are not people who ask for help. I want to be really clear about that. This is not who they are. They are the people who give the help. They are the ones who show up for everyone else.

So I'm showing up for them.

If you've ever gotten a tattoo from Chris, taken one of his tours, crossed paths with him in this community — you already know why this matters. If you don't know him, I'll tell you exactly who he is: he's the kind of man this world doesn't make enough of, and he needs us right now.

Every dollar goes directly to keeping them stable — so Chris can focus entirely on fighting this, and his wife doesn't have to choose between keeping the lights on and being by his side.

Give what you can. Share this everywhere. Getting this in front of the right people could change everything for this family.

They would do it for you. I promise you that.

— Patrick

Red Rabbit Tattoo