Email - Advancing Awareness, Early Detection and Prevention this Melanoma Awareness Month!

Melanoma Research Foundation

#GetNaked - It may save your life

During Melanoma Awareness Month, our goal is to shout from the rooftops the importance of melanoma prevention and early detection. 90% of melanomas are preventable, however, it takes only one blistering sunburn, especially at a young age, to more than double a person’s chance of developing melanoma later in life. Being your own advocate is just as important, checking your own skin, learning how to do a self-skin check and identifying if something might be new or changing and if it is, going to see a board-certified dermatologist for a full body skin exam. We know that encouraging melanoma awareness and prevention starts at the community level and that is why we are partnering with Miami Dolphins Running back Raheem Mostert as this year’s Melanoma Awareness Month spokesperson. Raheem is committed to using his platform and voice to encourage everyone to #GetNaked. You can read why Raheem is so passionate and why his family advocates for prevention and early detection here.

Our mission to support and engage with the 1.4 million Americans living with melanoma would not be possible without our supporters championing and advocating for more public education and engagement as well as research advancements to help eradicate melanoma. We thank our prevention and awareness campaign partners including Merck, Neutrogena, EltaMD and BMS and the thousands of passionate individuals raising funds and awareness in their own communities. There are several ways you can join in and support our mission too. We have featured a “Ways to Get Involved” section below where you can identify an opportunity that is right for you!

Donate Today

Kyleigh M. LiPira, MBA

CEO

Congratulations to our Resident/Fellow Grant Recipients

We are excited to announce 5 new Resident/Fellow Grant awardees: Drs. Kelsey Montgomery from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Afsaneh Amouzegar from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Urvashi Joshi from the University of Pittsburgh, Kevin Nguyen from the West Virginia University Research Corporation and Milad Ibrahim from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. This grant is designed to fund clinical or laboratory melanoma research projects for residents/fellows under the mentorship of a melanoma investigator. Visit the Funded Research page to view all the grant recipients awarded to-date. To learn more about our research program, please email research@melanoma.org.

Insights into the Eyes on a CURE: OM Patient and Caregiver Symposium

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Eyes on a Cure: Ocular Melanoma (OM) Patient and Caregiver Symposium in Boston, MA! It was an amazing opportunity to connect with the patient and caregiver community and learn from medical experts, researchers and oncology social workers about advancements in OM, navigating the patient journey and what’s to come in the field. To engage with the content from this year's symposium, we invite you to read a blog summary, view photos from the event in this Facebook album and watch symposium recordings via our YouTube Channel. We also encourage the OM community to register and contribute data for a cure through the VISION Platform, a patient powered platform that unites patients, caregivers, researchers and physicians.

Donor Corner

Unveiling of the Legacy of Progress Endowment Wall

We are proud to announce the unveiling of the Legacy of Progress Endowment wall at our Washington, DC office. This wall honors the generous contributions of all Legacy of Progress Endowment donors and founding members, whose support is vital to our mission of advancing melanoma research and patient care. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and dedication, which continue to drive progress in the fight against melanoma. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Legacy of Progress Endowment Fund, click here for more information and please contact Liz Reilly at lreilly@melanoma.org.

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Team Grace

Patty Pophal has been a leader of the Cleveland Miles for Melanoma community for many years, chairing the committee and raising over $100,000 each year for melanoma research. Her dedication and passion have been instrumental in increasing research funding and support for the wider melanoma community. Patty’s motivation comes from her daughter, Grace, who succumbed to metastatic melanoma last June. Read about Grace’s legacy and Patty’s incredible drive to change outcomes for the melanoma community.

Read Full Story Here

To learn about getting involved in a Miles for Melanoma event near you, please visit our Miles for Melanoma program here.

Newly Launched Stages 0-1 Cutaneous Melanoma Patient Guide

Just diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma stage 0 or 1 and want to learn more? Check out our new Melanoma Patient Guide! The Melanoma Patient Guide: Stage 0-1 is designed to empower individuals diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma in its early stages, providing essential information on understanding the condition, how doctors determine your melanoma stage, how to communicate effectively with your healthcare team, resources for support and how to adopt preventive measures for long-term well-being. Download a free copy now from our Education Institute and take charge of your health!

Click to View

Upcoming Educational Opportunities

Georgetown Patient & Caregiver Symposium

Join the upcoming Together Against Melanoma: Georgetown Patient & Caregiver Symposium on June 8, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM at the Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. This educational event will have both in-person and virtual participation options, covering a variety of topics related to cutaneous (skin) melanoma diagnosis, treatment and supportive care. To view the agenda and register, click here. Recordings from previous patient symposia are available to view on the MRF YouTube Page.

ICYMI: Recent Educational Events

Northwestern Patient & Caregiver Symposium Recap

On April 27, we held the Together Against Melanoma: Patient & Caregiver Symposium in partnership with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Presentations covered topics such as the Rule of Surgery in Melanoma, Systemic Therapy & irAEs, Clinical Trials, Familial Melanoma and the Role of Genetics, Psychosocial Support & Palliative Care, the Role of Radiation Therapy and the day concluded with a Mock Tumor Board and two patient stories. Click below to view:

View Here

Ask the Expert Webinar Series

On May 22, we had an informative discussion featuring Dr. Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Vice-Chief for Dermatopathology Operations, The University of Chicago Medicine and patient advocate Jeffrey Whitridge. This webinar focused on the critical topic of sun safety and early detection of melanoma. If you were unable to join a live webinar, or want to revisit the presentation, the recordings are available on the MRF YouTube channel.

View Video Here

Navigating your Melanoma Journey After Diagnosis Webinar

On May 21, former MRF Board Member & melanoma advocate Cheryl Stratos and 1104Health held an informative webinar called, “Navigating the Medical System After Diagnosis: A Stage IV Melanoma Survivors Journey”. This webinar focused on the importance of advocating as a patient during your cancer journey, clinical trials and enrollment and how to discover the best treatment option for your cancer and setting yourself up for the best outcome. Click below to view the recording of the webinar!

Click to View

Join us this Summer at Miles for Melanoma!

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Miles for Melanoma is in full swing, and we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming events! Join us in Denver, CO (June 8), Chicago, IL (July 21), Cleveland, OH (August 4), Twin Cities, MN (August 17) and Philadelphia, PA (August 24) this spring/summer! We also want to extend a massive THANK YOU to the incredible communities in Washington, DC, New England and Memphis, TN, whose recent events have already raised an amazing $265,719 for the melanoma community! Don't miss out—register early, start recruiting your team and unlock exciting fundraising incentives. Together, let's make a difference. We can't wait to see you there! If you aren’t able to make it in person, consider joining as a virtual participant or make a donation today!