Melanoma Awareness Week has taken place at HSE high school for the past four years allowing students to be more conscious of what melanoma cancer is. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer. President of Key Club, senior Elizabeth Huston talks about what Melanoma awareness week is.
“[It] is a whole week dedicated to informing students about Melanoma cancer,” Huston said. “Students will learn the ways to prevent it such as not using tanning beds.”
The money the club raises throughout the week goes to the organization, “Outrun the Sun”. “[They are] an organization who focuses on building awareness of Melanoma and other skin cancers,” Huston said. “They educate communities about preventative measures, and raise funds for Melanoma research.”
Key Club is spreading the word by making posters and flyers for the school halls and releasing promotional videos on social media. Students will receive a black ribbon to put on their backpack or clothes with every purchase of items at lunch.
“Hopefully having students wear these pins will increase awareness and start conversations about the cause,” Huston said. “We are hoping that this will get the word out.”
Key Club highlights Melanoma Week because of the close connection of the disease to one of the sponsors of Key Club. HSE teacher Kenneth Link lost his wife, Shelley Link, to Stage four metastatic melanoma cancer in May of 2013.
“As [Shelley] was treated for cancer, one of her goals was to educate and help young people become aware of just how important it is to protect their skin from the sun,” Link said. “My hope is that it will help students and the community become more aware of different precautions they can take, such as wearing sunscreen or spray tanning instead of using a tanning bed to help protect their skin.”
Key Club’s mission is to encourage students to take care of their skin. Instead of teenagers damaging their skin in tanning beds, they encourage students to use AirTans, which are spray tans given by technicians instead of machines.
During lunches throughout the week, the club will be selling t-shirts, AirTan vouchers, sunglasses and bracelets. The club will also be hosting many different dine-to-donates at multiple different locations. Students are encouraged to participate in the spirit week activities that are planned and dress up each day.
On Mar. 19 through the 23, students are asked to learn more about the cancer that affects so many people around them. Key Club’s mission is for teenagers to understand what Melanoma is and join together to prevent it. Take care of your skin and fight against Melanoma.
