Research. Educate. Advocate.

To support medical RESEARCH for finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma. To EDUCATE patients and physicians about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. To act as an ADVOCATE for the melanoma community to raise the awareness of this disease and the need for a cure. Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest independent, national organization devoted to melanoma in the United States. Committed to the support of medical research in finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma.

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I've been called the sunscreen guru, the shady lady, the swimming ninja.  These titles I wear willingly and proudly because I have earned them...the hard way.
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Who I am

I am not a doctor. I am a wife, a mother of young girls, a three time melanoma survivor, and most recently a LA Times bestselling author of Pale Girl SPEAKS. My first diagnosis, at 25, was the result of a yearly skin exam. A dermatologist, who I’d been seeing since high school, pointed out the mole and thought it should be biopsied. At the time, I had no idea what melanoma was. Read more

What I do

Well, these days, I write, I tweet, I instruct and sometimes even bray about UV exposure and sun protection! I have spent the last ten years educating myself about melanoma and have worked to find simple, practical ways to live safely in the sun. Now, with the help of social media, I’ve been able to expand my message and reach out to others. Read more

What I want

I want people to understand the danger of UV exposure - indoors and out. I want tanning beds banned to minors. I want everyone to become proactive when it comes to their skin and make yearly skin exams with a dermatologist...yearly. Melanoma is nearly 99% treatable if caught early, but is one of the deadliest cancers once it has spread. Read more