The Miami Dolphins are proud to announce the continuation of the team’s partnership with the Melanoma Exposed™ Screen. Protect. Know. Tell. campaign, which includes offering free skin cancer screenings at Sun Life Stadium on Thursday, April 25, 2013 during the Dolphins Draft Night Event, and Saturday, April 27 during Fin Fest. Attendees may be eligible for free tickets to a regular season Dolphins game and other autographed prizes.
Melanoma Exposed is an educational campaign – led by melanoma advocacy groups, former pro football Coach Bill Cowher and Bristol-Myers Squibb – to raise awareness of melanoma and its risk factors and to encourage people to get screened. As part of the campaign last year, nearly 400 fans were screened for skin cancer during events hosted by the Dolphins. This year, the team hopes to screen even more people.
“The Miami Dolphins are proud to be part of a program that educates our fans about melanoma risk factors and how to protect themselves,” said Miami Dolphins Head Coach Joe Philbin. “As a football coach, I’ve spent the majority of my days outside in the sun. I’ve learned throughout the years how important it is to get screened for skin cancer regularly. We are excited to see how many fans we can screen at our events this year and also teach them about risk factors to be aware of.”
During the span of a single football game, three Americans will die from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Floridians need to be especially vigilant, as UV rays – like those from the sun – are a risk factor for melanoma. The state has the greatest amount of annual UV ray exposure in the U.S., and is ranked #2 in the U.S. for new melanoma skin cancers.
Miami Dolphins CFO Mark Brockelman has a personal connection with melanoma as his wife, Jan, passed away from the disease in 2010. Brockelman and his two daughters attended the Melanoma Exposed screening events last year and plan to be a part of the initiative this year as well. “This campaign is very meaningful to me and my family. It is important to us to spread the word that regular skin cancer screenings may help identify melanoma in its early stages, when it is almost always curable if treated properly.”
A team of healthcare professionals, including licensed dermatologists, will be conducting free skin cancer screenings during the April 25 and 27 events. The two events will accommodate approximately 600 free skin cancer screenings over the course of two days.
WHAT: Miami Dolphins and Melanoma Exposed Skin Cancer Screening Events
WHEN: Draft Night Event – Thursday, April 25, 2013, 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fin Fest – Saturday, April 27, 2013, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Sun Life Stadium, Gate C Club Level (347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens, FL 33056)