Community rallies for cancer victim

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 05, 2009

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PORT RICHEY --

Friends of Connie Bartels, who lost her dog in a fire that temporarily displaced her family, will rally around her Sunday.

They have put together a fundraiser for 1 p.m. Sunday at Old Skool Ink, 8217 U.S. 19.

Proceeds from tattoos and shop merchandise sold that day will go to the Bartels family. The event will feature local bands, a drawing for prizes donated by local vendors and food and face painting for the kids.

On Nov. 9, a fire ripped through Bartels' home at 6339 Delaware Ave. in New Port Richey, killing her 7-pound Yorkshire terrier, Harley. Bartels credits the dog with helping her get through breast cancer treatments. He hid from the fire in the home's only bathroom and died of smoke inhalation.

Bartels and her daughters, Katie, 15, and Danielle, 18, weren't home when the house burned.

Lisa A. Davis