Suffolk County and LI Ducks Help Block Skin Cancer
Published on May 18, 2005 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release
(Central Islip, N.Y., May 18, 2005) â Suffolk County Legislator Brian Foley, in conjunction with the Long Island Ducks and Vytra Health Plans, held a press conference Wednesday morning at Citibank Park to discuss the dangers of Melanoma. It was the third in a series of events the Legislator's Office put on throughout the month of May, Melanoma Awareness Month in Suffolk County, to help spread awareness of the deadliest form of skin cancer.
"Education is the key in our battle against preventable diseases," said the Suffolk County Legislator. "All of us must learn how to protect ourselves from the danger of exposure to harmful UV rays. We want to remind children who play baseball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, or any other outdoor sport: when you pack your ball and your water, don't forget your sunscreen."
With an estimated 7,800 Americans expected to die this year from Melanoma, education was the key idea preached by all of the speakers at the event, including Ducks principal owner Frank Boulton, on hand to discuss the team's involvement to aid skin cancer prevention.
"We are very happy to join in this youth awareness campaign," said Boulton. "We all know the time to start education with the young people of our county is now."
Boulton went on to explain how, thanks to the help of Vytra, sunscreen will be provided to Duck fans at all afternoon home games throughout the 2005 season. Those in need would be able to receive the lotion from either the customer service center (on the main concourse of Citibank Park) or any of the stadium's ushers. Even Boulton himself will help protect fans, as he will be handing out the samples personally at Citibank Park.
Alongside Boulton were Bud Harrelson, Ducks coach and co-owner, Yvonne Spreckels, Senior Director of Health Initiatives for the American Cancer Society, Addie Mattei-laia, President of the Long Island Junior Soccer League and Colette Coyne of the Melanoma Awareness Campaign. Coyne is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology's National Coalition for Sun Safety. Both Harrelson and Coyne shared their own personal stories with skin cancer.
"Melanoma starts when you are a kid," said Harrelson, before discussing his own personal battle when he was diagnosed with basal cell cancer four years ago. "It starts with our kids and we're here to make them more aware."
Since the death of her daughter, Colette, in 1998, Coyne and the Melanoma Awareness Campaign have been dedicated to increasing public knowledge of all forms of skin cancer and change the attitude towards carelessness in the sun. The campaign achieves its goals through events like the one at Citibank Park and the other four events this month held by the Suffolk County Legislator, as well as by speaking at places such as the Farmingdale Community Fair and Hampton Bays World Gym. "We are determined to make a difference," said Coyne, "and, thank God, I think we have."
The final event of the series will be held May 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Smith Point County Park and will once again address the dangers of the sun and offer tips to patrons for enjoying a day at the beach or park. Those interested in more information on the dangers of Melanoma can go online and visit the American Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org, or contact the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign at (516)-352-4227 or www.ccmac.org.
Atlantic League Stories from May 18, 2005
- Bluefish top Patriots with 6-1 win - Somerset Patriots
- Bears blank Pride, 3-0 - American Defenders of New Hampshire
- Suffolk County and LI Ducks Help Block Skin Cancer - Long Island Ducks
- Somerset Patriots To Host Seventh Annual D.A.R.E DAY This Sunday - Somerset Patriots
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