Tattooed, Tested, and Touring: Another week as a Teenage Dirtbag

This week was a wild one—packed with long drives, amazing people, canceled shows, some serendipitous moments, and a lot of work for the cause. The overview is really ALL about the steps we take to try to make a difference with the bone marrow registry.

Why We Keep Showing Up: A Reminder of the “Why” Behind the Miles

Every 3 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or disorder.Every 9 minutes, someone dies from one.

Only about 30% of patients can find a suitable match within their own family. That means nearly 70% are relying on strangers—unrelated donors on the bone marrow registry—for a second chance at life.

But here’s the heartbreaking truth: not everyone has the same chance of finding a match.

Right now, the likelihood of a Black or African American patient finding a donor is just 29%, compared to 79% for white patients. That disparity exists because of serious underrepresentation on the registry. It’s not about genetics—it’s about access, awareness, and equity.

This is why we keep showing up.This is why we drive thousands of miles, set up tables, talk to strangers, and ask the hard questions.Because until everyone has an equal shot at survival, we’re not done.

And this is why every single time we get that notification—that someone we swabbed matched and went on to donate—it’s a massive win. A life-changing, hope-restoring success. Those moments remind us that this work matters. That every conversation, every swab, every mile… adds up.

And this week? We were reminded exactly why this work matters.

We found out that TWO more matches led to donations—real people, saving real lives—because of a table we set up. One was at a Keep Flying show, and we got to tell the band that their event helped save a life. The other came from Lollapalooza. These aren’t just swabs. They’re chances. They’re everything. This is WHY we show up. This is WHY we drive the miles.

Richmond, VA – Canal Club (108.7 miles)

This was Rob’s last date on the run before heading to AC Beerfest, and we made it count. We got to catch up with Jared from our Punksgiving programming (which is getting expanded this year—stay tuned). We also hung out with Pedro from Iron Roses and Fire Sale...DeeAnn, our Virginia Beach chapter lead, brought us knee-high socks and some epic NASA swag—including space ice cream! Cue a mini throwback moment: little Tina was obsessed with all things space. One of my absolute favorite toys was a NASA playset, and I wanted to go to space camp so damn bad. That inner space nerd? Still very much alive.

We swabbed 4 people and collected some donations—overall, a solid night and a good way to send Rob off. AC Beerfest ended up being an amazing success so it is a good thing we made everything work for the team to be there after all the van issues.

Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre (295 miles)

The drive was brutal, and honestly, they’re only going to get worse from here. But the venue staff were awesome, and while the crowd was smaller, we still swabbed 2 people and took in around 300 donations—right on par with other stops.

Also, the weather was perfect. I took a much-needed nap in the van behind the venue, and I’m not even mad about it. Having Cam, Wheatus' Tour Manager, find me parking on some of these dates has been INCREDIBLE. I have been able to actually relax and get some rest. I think it is why I am not feeling like trash yet.

Wheatus Appreciation Break

Can I just say—I love watching Wheatus every night. It’s a totally new experience each time. I’m not bored. I never know what they’re going to play. They’ve been honoring fans requests with “Christmas Dirtbag” and it makes me ridiculously happy. The fact they will play songs requested throughout their set is a hoot.

Greenville, SC – The Radio Room (104 miles)

This show had to be canceled to protect Brendan’s voice (thanks to allergies or a cold—whatever’s going around). It was a huge bummer, but the right call.

However… Thelma and Lilly had the best day of their lives sunbathing in the parking lot and soaking up all the love from the band and crew. Moments like these remind me why I love this community. The band truly cares. They’re kind. They’re welcoming. And for someone like me, who constantly battles that “I am a BURDEN” feeling and I should just stay out of the way—it means everything. 10/10, I’ll support this band in whatever they do.

Swabbed in Fort Worth, Texas at the lovely Tulips. You will truly see us there again, they were wonderful to work with!

Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (145 miles)

Big win here—we swabbed 8 people and had a great team on hand. The crowd was genuinely curious and eager to help. The Masquerade is always so great to our nonprofit anytime we are swinging through.

Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s Live (562 miles)

A looooong solo drive (about 8 hours), and Thelma decided she hates thunderstorms. I’m running solo on this stretch, and it’s wearing on me. I had some good convos, but no one was really interested in the bone marrow registry. That part’s frustrating. I know I need to find better ways to connect with people on it—it’s too important not to. A lot of it has

Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing (330 miles)

This one was a dinner-and-a-show style event—seated, low-key, and honestly? It went great. Swabbed 3 people in a small crowd, which is a high percentage. Sometimes it’s not about quantity, but quality and connection.

Fort Worth, TX – Tulips (235 miles)

I had a volunteer ask me if I cried that day - fun fact - that is every single day. Me crying is honestly a baseline.

This one blew me away.

I was absolutely exhausted. Like, nap-and-work-from-bed-all-day exhausted. But the volunteers? They crushed it. We swabbed 18 people. The energy, the help, the passion—everything flowed better because I had support. It proves what we’ve known all along: more hands = more impact.

I see it most at festivals, where there’s energy and support everywhere—but the truth holds up at smaller shows too. When we have help, we reach more people. When we reach more people, lives get saved.

That’s the week. Tired doesn’t even begin to cover it, but we’re moving right along (yes, I still think I’m Kermit the Frog). The mission keeps rolling—and so do I. Next week the miles are....well.....a lot....4,105 MILES.

Thanks for being on this journey with me. Let’s keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

XOXO, Tina

We need volunteers for the following events. Click the link for dates and more information.

Norman Music Festival in Oklahoma
Wheatus in Des Moines
Holo Holo in Las Vegas