In the first anti-skin cancer initiative of its kind in Georgia, the Johns Creek Recreation and Parks Division is teaming up with Melanoma Foundation of New England and Make Big Change to place sunscreen dispensers at the City’s parks.

“Melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer and one of the easiest to prevent,” said Kirk Franz, Johns Creek Recreation manager. “People with kids in various programs often spend an entire day at the park, and they and the kids can end up with severe sunburns. Providing free sunscreen at a nominal cost is another way we can help promote the public health and welfare.”

Deb Girard, Executive Director of Melanoma Foundation of New England, said she was pleased the program was reaching into the Southeast. The Foundation recently initiated a similar program with the City of Boston.

“Due to the success of our Boston sunscreen initiative we were approached about expanding the program to John’s Creek,” she said. “We were thrilled at the opportunity to continue offering free sun protection to the public and look forward to this partnership.” 

Under the program, the Melanoma Foundation of New England will install five dispensers and provide four bags of free SPF 30 sunscreen, safe for people aged 6 months or older. After that, the City will pay for replenishing the sunscreen, estimated to cost about $500 a year. The dispensers hold a 1 liter bag of sunscreen. Each bag contains 1000 applications. Applications are free.

The dispensers are currently installed at Newtown, Ocee, and Shakerag parks.

The program came to Johns Creek as the result of a happenstance meeting when City Council member Steve Broadbent met Paul Gourley, a board member of Melanoma Foundation of New England, on an airplane flight from Miami to Atlanta. Later, Gourley called Broadbent about the program, and Broadbent arranged for him and City staff to talk.

The Melanoma Foundation of New England program was started in Boston this year. Johns Creek is the first city in Georgia to adopt it. The Melanoma Foundation of New England is a national organization.

Surgeon General Boris D. Lushniak in 2014 issued a Call to Action, asking governments, health care officials, private organizations, families and individuals to treat skin cancer as a major health concern. The number of melanoma cases is increasing at a greater rate than nearly all other cancers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates about 5 million people will be treated for melanoma this year, and 9,000 people will die from it.

According to its website, the Melanoma Foundation of New England, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to promoting prevention and early detection of melanoma. Make Big Change is a non-profit organization wholly dedicated to reducing the incidence of skin cancers through educational awareness and strategic prevention initiatives.

The facts about Melanoma:

Melanoma is a deadly, yet highly preventable form of skin cancer. This year alone over 10,000 people in the United States will die from melanoma – that’s one person every 50 minutes. Melanoma is the second-most common cancer in teens and young adults 15-29, and the most common cancer in men over the age of 50. The incidence of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is rising faster than that of any other cancer and is a relatively easy disease to prevent: Most melanomas are easy to stop if caught soon enough — all it takes is a yearly skin exam.

In recognition of May being Melanoma Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, Impact Melanoma (formerly the Melanoma Foundation of New England) is providing 190 free dispensers at 54 locations – including Cranston High School East.

“We are thrilled to expand on our highly successful pilot program in Boston and offer sunscreen units for public and private distribution throughout the country,” said Deb Girard, Impact Melanomas executive director.

The dispensers are tied directly to the MFNE program called “Practice Safe Skin,” which promotes using sunscreen as an effective protective measure to avoid sun overexposure.

Chris D’Ambrosio, vice principal at East has a very close and personal connection to the issue.

“My daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with melanoma in situ when she was 11 years old. She is going to turn 20 next month, and is in perfect health, due to early detection and working with the MFNE. Rachel actually is a speaker for the foundation,” he said.

D’Ambrosio wants to teach students to know what constitutes a “sun-safe lifestyle.” He actually requested a dispenser for every school in the district, but was awarded two.

“I kept the one here for East and gave the other to Park View,” he said.

The dispenser at East was installed May 16, and is placed by the gymnasium doors for students to take an application before heading out for physical education. The sunscreen has an SPF of 30, which is safe for everyone from six months and up, and it is made of all-natural ingredients. Each machine costs around $400 and was equipped with four bags of suncreen. Each bag has 1000 applications’ worth.

East has participated in several programs and in-services with the MFNE.

“We have a facial scanner that we use at these workshops and in our health classes,” D’Ambrosio said. “It is not a cancer diagnosis machine, but it shows the damage to the skin from the sun. Students who have used the scanner take the ‘skin is in’ pledge to start using appropriate sunscreen and safe sun precautions.”