OKC Tattoo Shop Hosts Tattoo Marathon To Raise Funds For Anti-Bullying Group

An Oklahoma City tattoo shop is taking a stand against bullying this weekend.

The Voodoo Tattoo shop, located at 9102 S. Walker in Oklahoma City, is hosting the "36-Hour Tattoo Marathon" event to help raise funds for anti-bullying organization, Stand For the Silent.

Learn more about Stand For the Silent

Kirk Smalley and his wife Laura became involved with the organization after their 11-year-old son, Ty Field-Smalley, took his own life on May 13, 2010, because of bullying.

The Smalleys say they want to spread their anti-bullying message around the world, and help those children who might be thinking about taking their own lives because of bullying issues.

"Suicide is never an answer. It's not even an option. It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem," said Kirk Smalley. "We've got to get this message out to these kids, that there is life after school."

Smalley said they have been to more than 550 schools, and have spoken to about 623,000 children around the world to help them take a stand against bullying.

"We can't make another set of parents live a nightmare that we wake up to each and every day without our baby," Smalley said.

To help the Smalleys spread their message against bullying, the Voodoo Tattoo Shop in Oklahoma City decided to host a 36-hour tattoo marathon in an effort to raise funds to support the Smalleys' trips.

Learn more about how you can donate to the organization

"They've got several anti-bully tattoos. They are trying to teach kids that everybody is someone, and they all have a right to be here to be who they are," Smalley said.

The marathon started at 12 p.m. on Friday, and will end at midnight on Saturday.

Learn more about the marathon on Voodoo Tattoo's Facebook page