About 40 plucky fundraisers were this weekend tattooed with the pink ribbon – a permanent symbol to raise awareness of cancer.

Lisa Murgatroyd organised the sponsored tattoo-athon, dubbed Pink Ink Day, with the hope of raising about £2,000 for Cancer Research UK after her friend went through treatment for the disease.

She said: “It’s come together as even more of my friends all decided to join in with it. It’s a cause that is close to my heart.

“I already had two tattoos already but I was still scared. It is painful but worth it in the end.

“A few got it done in memory of somebody.

“It is a permanent thing to raise awareness. At the end of the day it is a small amount of pain compared to what cancer patients have to go through.”

Miss Murgatroyd, 32, said some of her colleagues at the Mill View Residential Home in Bolton Lane, Bradford, were among those who got the tattoo, as were friends from Brighouse and Leeds.

They paid £30 for their tattoos, which were of a range of designs all incorporating the well-known pink ribbon symbol.

Half the money will go to the tattooist to cover overheads and the remainder will be donated to the charity.

Rob Doubtfire, of Rob’s Tattoo Studio, in Lansdowne Place, Little Horton, said he welcomed the chance to do something for Cancer Research after he was approached by Miss Murgatroyd.

He said he felt it was important to support the cause, as his father died of cancer when he was aged just 12.

“Everyone knows someone who has suffered with cancer,” he said. “If I was going to do anything it would be for cancer, it just seemed appropriate.”

Anyone who would like to sponsor the women is asked to visit justgiving.com/ LisaMurgatroyd1304.