“Play Safe In The Sun” Campaign Scores Well At The Kraft Nabisco Championship. | Events of the Women's Dermatologic Society

At the Kraft-Nabisco LPGA Tournament in Rancho Mirage on March 28, 2004 are members of the Women's Dermatologic Society, Dr. Wendy E. Roberts, Dr. Sandra Read, and Dr. Karen Vigeland. Each participated in the skin screening of LPGA players and tournament goers.

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CONTACT: Nancy Balik FitzGerald
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Kerry Parker, Executive Director, 1-877-WDS-ROSE

(April 3, 2004 Rancho Mirage, California—Palm Springs Area)—
In a concerted effort to fight the alarming incidence of skin cancer in America, the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) successfully launched its “Play Safe in the Sun” campaign, directed at the women’s golf community, at the Kraft Nabisco Championship recently in Rancho Mirage. This public service reached more than 4,500 tournament attendees who visited the WDS Exhibition Tent, where 302 skin cancer screenings were conducted by WDS members, who presumptively diagnosed 11 melanomas and 56 lesions of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

In honor of the kickoff of this public outreach initiative, Congresswoman Mary Bono (CA-45) issued Congressional Recognition for the group’s effort to promote skin cancer prevention and conduct free skin cancer screenings at LPGA golf tournaments . Comments Bono, “Like so many people who live in California, I love to spend a beautiful afternoon golfing and enjoying the sunshine. When going outdoors in our climate in particular, simple, preventative measures like putting on sunscreen or a hat are crucially important to help protect against sun damage and skin cancer. I am pleased with the role the WDS is playing in raising public awareness to curb this terrible epidemic and help keep Californians’ skin healthy.”

While the WDS effort is initially focused on the golf enthusiasts’ special needs for sun protection and skin cancer protection, the incidence of skin cancer among Americans at large continues to rise. According to WDS President, Dr. Sandra I. Read, “Approximately one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, with a higher risk posed to golfers, as American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) surveys document. The WDS is fully committed to reducing the incidence of skin cancer and improving survival rates in this country through public education programs and screening efforts such as this new golf-oriented campaign.”

Dr. Read, a Washington, D.C.-based dermatologist and national AAD spokesperson on sunscreen and ultraviolet radiation, participated in the skin cancer screenings at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, along with Dr. Wendy E. Roberts, a Rancho Mirage dermatologist who is President-elect of the California Dermatologic Society, Immediate Past President of the American Cancer Society, Desert Palms Area, and 2003 recipient of the “Volunteer of the Year” award. Other WDS dermatologists involved in the screenings included Drs. Karen Vigeland of Vancouver, Washington and Ingrid Trenkle of Redlands, California.

In support of the WDS mission to curb skin cancer throughout the nation, several companies have joined in the cause, including: Ortho Neutrogena, which provided a UV Photography camera and sunscreen for spectators; Person & Covey, which gave Solbar Sunblock to LPGA tournament players; Procter & Gamble, which donated samples of Olay Complete All-Day Defense sunscreen for exhibition tent visitors; Skin Medica, which donated bottles of daily sun protection crème for LPGA players, and Guthy-Renker Corporation, which made a financial contribution to help launch the WDS “Play Safe in the Sun” campaign at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Comments local host and WDS board member Dr. Roberts, “We are very grateful for the support and generosity of local and national corporate sponsors as we work together to combat skin cancer. It is through united efforts like this that we can make a dent in this terrible—yet highly preventable—disease.”

The WDS skin cancer screening initiative, “Play Safe in the Sun” is a part of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) National Skin Cancer Volunteer Screening Initiative. AAD educational materials were provided to the tournament spectators along with the free sun protection products from corporate sponsors.

“Play Safe in the Sun” public awareness and skin cancer screening services will take place at selected LPGA tournaments in key cities around the country throughout the year.

For more information, please contact

1-877-WDS-ROSE
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