Paint, wine and baring it all to save the tatas.

Every year, “Paint the Tatas” brings women together to use their bodies as a canvas. Sunday night, landscapes and various designs decorated not backs or faces, but breasts.

BreastStrokes is a local non-profit organization that works to raise money for current or former female cancer patients. Women of all ages take off their shirts to aid the cause, even if it takes a glass of wine and a massage to get motivated. At this event, there are no men and no insecurities.

Held at the Iron Wood Studios, the paintings are done strictly neck to navel, making the canvases completely anonymous.

“The goal is to raise money for women who have had cancer to take a trip to Jamaica or pay their medical bills or feed their kids,” said Adrienne Webster, BreastStrokes’ treasurer. “Not all of our recipients survive, so if they want to go to Germany, then go to Germany.”

No stipulations and no questions are asked when awarding money to the women. BreastStrokes wants to emphasize that it is more than paying the medical bills, help is needed for everyday things including groceries.

“The other half of what we do is empower women,” Webster said. “It takes a lot to come in here and take your shirt off and get painted.”

Julie Thurman, a breast cancer survivor and the first-ever recipient of the BreastStrokes donation, returns each year to support the cause that supported her through a double mastectomy.

“I was diagnosed with stage two aggressive breast cancer when I was 33 years old,” said Thurman. “I entered an 18 to 40 year old support group, and I was one of the oldest people in the group. It’s terrifying.”

As a victim of cancer, Thurman wants to emphasis the importance of being aware and getting your lumps and bumps checked, no matter how young you are.

“The thing about this particular group of people is that we can actually get to those people that we need to target, which are young adults,” Thurman said.

It was these young ladies who flooded inside the warehouse, willing to wait however long it might take to get their tatas taken care of.

Sarah Fox, a graduate student in education, heard about the event and decided to come check it out with friends.

“I didn’t come here knowing that I was going to get painted,” Fox said. “I thought I would just check it out. I am really pumped that everyone is so comfortable with their bodies and supportive of the cause. It’s good vibes to be around.”

Whether you want to be a canvas, a painter, a volunteer or just a supportive wine drinker, the event welcomes every woman with doors wide open.

“Watching these people come together for such a great cause is one of the only times I don’t think about having cancer,” Thurman said. “I think of how awesome this fundraiser is.”