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| | Help Support our 4th Pediatric Melanoma Research Grant
This month, the MRF presented a courageous young woman with a Courage Award at our 23rd Annual New York City Gala. Marit Peterson first came to know the MRF years ago, as a pediatric melanoma patient. Marit’s patient journey started when she was just 3 months old when a small bump appeared on her ring finger. At the time, doctors felt it wasn’t anything concerning but her mother pressed on and convinced a surgeon to remove the growth. The biopsy took months to get a final answer. And, just before her second birthday, Marit was diagnosed with stage IIIB melanoma. Her life was forever changed. Marit was given just six months to live. In 2006, there were not a lot of treatment options, especially for a pediatric melanoma patient. After many surgeries to remove her tumor and 17 lymph nodes, Marit was declared “cancer-free”. She started a year-long alpha interferon treatment plan to ensure that her melanoma would not return. She had a Broviac port in her chest for the month-long induction phase of treatment, then her mom had to give her three shots a week for a year. This treatment made her very sick. However, after a difficult year of treatment, Marit began a life-long journey of remission, and she will be seen by MD Anderson every year for the rest of her life. Today, Marit is a bright 19-year-old headed to medical school and as she addressed the NYC crowd, she was both determined and wise beyond her years.
At the Foundation, our goal is to ensure more pediatric patients like Marit become cancer free and live out their dreams. So, we have pledged to fund our 4th Pediatric Melanoma Research Grant to support a senior investigator to continue to help advance treatment options for the nearly 500 children a year who are diagnosed. You can directly support this grant by making a tax-deductible donation here.
In addition to your support of this pivotal pediatric melanoma research grant, the MRF is also thankful to the many donors who have to date helped our community achieve another significant milestone towards funding the future of melanoma research through our Legacy of Progress Endowment initiative. Tomorrow, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of this critical initiative and with thanks to you, I am elated to announce that we have received $5 million in commitments. This achievement underscores your unwavering dedication of support towards a world without melanoma. We couldn’t reach this milestone without you, and we hope you will consider continuing to help fund our Endowment goal of $10 million. For more information, please contact lreilly@melanoma.org.
It is your support that sustains and grows the work of the Foundation. We are completely funded by the community we serve, and your support enables research grants that help patients like Marit. We hope you will consider the MRF this giving season. Research creates hope and hope changes everything!
Kyleigh M. LiPira, MBA
CEO
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| Pediatric Melanoma Community: Join the Pediatric Melanoma Family Retreat Weekend |
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| We are excited to announce that the next Pediatric Melanoma Family Retreat Weekend will take place February 21 – 23 at Camp Boggy Creek in Florida!
We welcome patients aged 5 to 17 years, along with their siblings and caretakers, who have been impacted by any stage of pediatric melanoma. Our program focuses on education from top healthcare providers, fun camp activities and community support that fosters connections among families facing similar challenges. This is an all-expense paid trip that includes lodging, activities, meals and transportation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with others and gain valuable insights!
The application priority date is December 12 and all applicants after that date will be accepted on a rolling basis based on availability. Apply here - Camp Boggy Creek Camper.
For those interested, we will hold a general information session on November 13 at 7pm ET. Register to attend this informational Zoom, Meeting Registration - Zoom.
We are also seeking volunteers to help make this retreat a memorable experience for the families. If you're interested in supporting and want to contribute your time and skills, please click here for more details and to sign up. |
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| | | Patient Testimonial from Acral Melanoma Thriver: Eric Niles |
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| After a Stage IV acral melanoma diagnosis with tumors in his liver and bones, Eric Niles faced a life-altering journey that began with a routine podiatrist visit. Supported by his wife, friends and family, he underwent a grueling immunotherapy regimen that failed to stop the cancer's spread. Desperate for options, he joined a clinical trial at UCSF, combining Trametinib and experimental Naporafenib, which miraculously shrank his tumors. Six months later, surgery confirmed he was cancer-free, a state he has maintained for over two years. Now a patient advocate, he reflects on his journey, noting a newfound peace and desire to support others, feeling truly “healed” despite the incurable diagnosis. Click below to read Eric's full story. Watch Eric's video documentary produced by ERASCA below. |
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| | | Engage with Key Melanoma Opinion Leaders During November’s Ask the Expert Webinars!
We are hosting two dynamic Ask the Expert webinars next month on topics relevant to both our cutaneous and ocular melanoma patient communities. Up first, we invite you to a panel discussion with Dr. Jose Lutzky, Director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and melanoma patient, Gary Alan Klevens, on Understanding the TIL (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) Cell Therapy Patient Journey on November 7 at 7:00pm ET. In this session, you will learn about the patient journey from diagnosis to the treatment process with this scientific breakthrough and will be able to ask your questions of our panelists during a live Q&A. Register here to attend.
Next, as part of our ocular melanoma (OM) awareness month campaign entitled #EyeGetDilated, we invite you to attend a discussion about OM and the importance of annual screenings, including dilated eye exams on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:30pm ET. This session entitled, “Understanding Uveal Melanoma: Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Options”, will feature Dr. Andrew Stacey, an ocular oncologist at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital and ocular melanoma patient, Garth Corner. Register here to attend.
Thank you to Iovance and Aura for supporting our Ask the Expert series! |
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| | Together Against Melanoma Installment Recap
On September 14, we held Together Against Melanoma: Patient & Caregiver Symposium in partnership with the The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center located in Columbus, Ohio. Presentations covered topics such as new techniques and success of melanoma surgery, radiation oncology, MOHS and skin education, choroidal melanoma, the present and future of advanced melanoma, patient support services and a general overview of melanoma. The day concluded with a patient and caregiver panel. |
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| | Final Call: Take our Melanoma Prevention Survey by Nov. 1 and Announcing the Replimune/MRF Survey |
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| Help the MRF better educate the public on the key melanoma prevention issues impacting us today! We invite you to complete this brief prevention survey on how to prevent and detect the early signs of melanoma. While cutaneous melanoma is highly preventable, we need your help in reaching the public to ensure ALL understand the importance of and the key steps to prevent melanoma. Complete this survey by tomorrow, November 1 to be entered into a chance to win a $50 American Express gift card! The Prevention Survey will officially close on December 1. In partnership with Replimune, we have developed a survey intended for those with a current or previous diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma stages 3 or 4. Please take this brief survey to help the MRF better understand the options that metastatic patients have been offered and the kinds of support we can provide in the future. |
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| Highlights from the 23rd Annual NYC Gala: A Night to Remember |
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| We’re deeply thankful for the passion and generosity of our 375 guests. Your continued support through a 100% tax-deductible donation is critical to advancing life-changing research, expanding patient support and driving impactful advocacy. Click here to view the event image gallery! Together, you've shown us that PROGRESS IS POWER—thank you for making a real difference! Click below to make a donation today. |
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| | An Incredible 4th Annual #GetNakedJax! |
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| Photo: Event Chair and melanoma thriver, Jason Sessions
Thank you to everyone who made the 4th Annual #GetNakedJax presented by Dream Finders Homes such an incredible success! Your dedication to raising awareness and funds for melanoma means the world to us. Thanks to you, #GetNakedJax raised an outstanding $234,000 (and counting!). These funds will support groundbreaking research conducted by Pietro Berico, PhD, MS of New York University. His study, A Gene Regulatory Network Driving Melanoma Immune Evasion, explores how melanoma cells evade detection by the immune system. His team discovered that certain genes help cancer cells “hide,” making immunotherapy less effective for some patients. By targeting these genes, this research could improve immunotherapy outcomes, helping more patients benefit from life-saving treatments. There's still time to contribute to funding this vital research grant, helping us advance our fight against melanoma. To make a donation, click below. |
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| Engage with Lawmakers to Advance Melanoma Support at Next Year's Advocacy Days |
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| Join melanoma patients, caregivers, advocates and supporters from all over the country from March 2-4, 2025, in Washington, DC. This event offers a chance to explore the challenges faced by the melanoma community, drive essential legislative goals forward and share your personal journey with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Stay tuned for more details! |
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| | Step into the Season: Final Miles for Melanoma 5K Events |
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We're in the final stretch of our Miles for Melanoma 5K season, with only four events left! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the journey in: Atlanta, GA (November 3), San Francisco, CA (November 10), Fort Myers, FL (December 14) and Miami, FL (February 9). Our Miami, FL registration page will be opening soon! Now’s the time to register, rally your team and start earning exciting fundraising rewards. Your participation is essential in the fight against melanoma. Join us, and together we’ll take steps toward a future without melanoma!
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| Apply Now: 2025 Medical Student and Resident-Fellow Research Awards Request for Proposals (RFP) |
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| Medical Student and Resident-Fellow Research Award funding opportunities are now available. These awards provide research funding to trainees early in their careers ($3,000 for the Medical Student Awards and $10,000 for the Resident-Fellow Awards) for clinical or laboratory-based research projects focused on better understanding the prevention, early-detection, behaviors that impact melanoma risk, biology and treatment of melanoma, including cutaneous, ocular, mucosal, pediatric and acral lentiginous melanoma. In 2025, in addition to awards focused on any aspect of melanoma research, the MRF is pleased to offer at least one medical student and one resident-fellow award focused specifically on ocular melanoma research.
Applications are currently being accepted here. The deadline for the Medical Student Research Awards is November 18, 2024 at 5:00pm ET and Resident/Fellow Research Grants is February 3, 2025, at 5:00pm ET. For more information about either grant opportunity, including eligibility requirements and complete application instructions, please visit the Research Grant RFP page or email research@melanoma.org.
In addition to advancing research through these awards, this is also a powerful opportunity to fund a Medical Student or Resident-Fellow Research Grant in honor or memory of a loved one. By naming a grant, you can give the impactful gift of research this holiday season—a lasting tribute to someone special that directly supports the fight against melanoma. For more information regarding funding these grants, please contact Liz Reilly at LReilly@melanoma.org. |
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