melanoma patient support

Move for Melanoma 2023 – It’s a Wrap

A tremendous THANK YOU to all of our incredibly dedicated participants and generous donors!

50 participants and 14 teams across Canada took part in Move for Melanoma this year! We have been so moved and inspired by this incredible community of patients, families, and friends.

After the success of last year, we once again set ourselves an ambitious goal of raising $75,000. With your help, we ended up reaching our goal once again this year!

Video wrap up

To wrap up this monumental weekend, we’ve created the Recap Video below. We hope you will take a few moments to watch it as we pay tribute to our incredible participants, donors and sponsors across Canada. You can also view our 2023 PSA with J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks!

We’d also like to highlight the three fundraising teams that raised the most this year.

Team Ocumel Canada

Based in Victoria, BC, Team Captain Nigel Deacon ran a marathon distance to inspire others to donate to this worthy cause. Together with his fellow team members, they raised an incredible $12,777 for ocular melanoma patients.

Check out his team page here.

Scots across the Rockies

Based in Powel River, BC, Team Captain Taylor Tomko created a family donation page in hopes of inspiring others to donate to this worthy cause. Together with her fellow team members, they raised an incredible $9,704 for melanoma patients.

Check out her team page here.

Helen’s Freewheelers’s

Based in Nanaimo, BC, Team Helen’s Freewheelers raised funds in honour of Helen’s courageous battle against metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma. She’s now undergoing immunotherapy on Vancouver Island and exploring more advanced treatment options and clinical drug trials. The team raised $6,000

Check out their team page here.

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge the many businesses that stepped up to support our event this year. Please show them your support!

Only 23 days left! Move for Melanoma 2023

As we eagerly approach the month of September, our excitement grows as we prepare to shine a spotlight on the amazing accomplishments of our community.

The momentum leading up to our highly anticipated 5th annual Move for Melanoma fundraiser has been nothing short of inspiring. This event is not only a testament to our collective dedication to those touched by melanoma, non-melanoma, skin cancers & ocular/uveal melanoma but also a powerful reminder of the impact we can achieve together. Mark your calendars for the dates of September 22-24, 2023, as we unite once again for this remarkable cause.

Fundraising Tips

The team at Save Your Skin Foundation would like to thank the 21 participants who have registered, as well as the 11 teams that have already joined the Move for Melanoma. Your involvement has catapulted us beyond expectations, propelling us to reach 25% of our fundraising goal.

Our journey is far from over! With each step we take and each contribution made, we inch closer to our ultimate objective. The funds raised through Move for Melanoma have consistently offered invaluable support to those affected by melanoma, non-melanoma, skin cancers & ocular/uveal melanoma.

Fundraiser tips

With only 23 days to go before Move for Melanoma, it’s the perfect time to do another round of requests for donations. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you:

Post on social media frequently. People rarely donate the first time they are asked. By posting frequently, you’ll remind people who might have forgotten, and get better results.
Send personal emails. Most people, when asked directly, will be happy to make a donation to a cause important to a friend or family member.
Tell your story. This cause is important to you for a reason. People who are touched by your story will be more likely to give.
Use an image. We all know the power images have. Consider including a photo of yourself or your family in your posts or emails.

And don’t forget to always include the URL to your fundraising page so that donations made as a result of your posts will be correctly assigned to your team.

For more on how to fundraise, including sample posts you can use, click here.

Participant Resources

We’ve created some resources to help you get ready for Move for Melanoma. The resources include:

A Participant Timeline – that offers tips and tricks for getting ready for the event
A Donation Form – which you can print out and use to keep track of donations made to you with cash, cheque or credit card
A Scavenger Hunt Printout – Print this out to lead your kids through a fun scavenger hunt.
A Scavenger Hunt Instructions document – To help you prepare for the hunt.
Three Posters – Which you can print and post around town to help promote the event and get people to join your team

Social Media Posts & Copy

Save and share these posts on your social media accounts to encourage your network to donate to your team! Click on the images to download.

“On September 23-24th, I’ll be challenging myself to (insert activity) to raise funds for melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma patients during #Move4Melanoma. As you may know, I was (or my mother/husband/sister/father/brother etc.) diagnosed with (insert type of cancer) in (insert year). What you may not know is that melanoma and other types of skin cancer are being diagnosed at an alarming rate, and that cancer patients need our help.

I ask that you please consider supporting me in fundraising for patients in need, so that everyone diagnosed with (insert disease) may have the same chances of survival. Every dollar donated will go directly to a patient in need in the form of treatment costs, flights, accommodation and other necessary but costly expenses incurred while receiving treatment. Thanks in advance for your generosity. Donate here.”

8th Annual Patients Redefining the Future of Health Care in Canada Summit

The 8th Annual Patients Redefining the Future of Health Care in Canada Summit will be held on Zoom during the week of Nov. 13! This annual patient education and awareness Summit is a joint project between Save Your Skin Foundation and Canadian Psoriasis Network, in collaboration with an Indigenous volunteer from Kiyasiw Consulting.

Join patients, caregivers, and other healthcare stakeholders from across the country to hear from community leaders, advocates, and experts about long-standing systemic issues related to equity and oppression in our health systems and discover how we can work together to truly modernize healthcare to meet the needs of all.

Our schedule for this year:

13 Nov. 11 AM-4 PM EST: Challenges to Meeting People Where They’re At
15 Nov. 12 PM-4 PM EST: Highlighting Indigenous Health Needs
16 Nov. 12 PM-4 PM EST: Opportunities to Modernize Health Care to Meet the Needs of All
17 Nov. 12 PM- 1:30 PM EST: Patient Planning Session- restricted to patients/caregivers and related groups

Ready to register? Click the the link here.

Hair Heroes Challenge

We are happy to announce that Save Your Skin Foundation has partnered with the Ontario Professional Hairstylist Association to launch the Hair Heroes Challenge!

The Challenge calls on all hairstylists and hair schools across Canada to show off their skills and make a difference in the fight against skin cancer with Sty-Lives. This social media campaign in English and French aims to showcase just how simple and effortless skin cancer scalp checks can be.

Participating is easy, and participants have two options:

Options 1: Shoot a captivating video (60 seconds or less) where they demonstrate their hairstyling prowess while performing a skin cancer check on their client.

Option 2: Capture the transformation with a before and after photo of their client’s hair, following a thorough check or styling session.

We had the pleasure of being interviewed by OPHA about the Challenge. Watch the video to learn more.

Want to participate? Don’t forget to include our official hashtags, #HairHeroes & #Sty-lives2023, mention Sty-Lives, and let your imagination run wild! The SYSF team will be on the lookout for the most imaginative video that not only promotes Sty-Lives, but also showcases the importance of skin cancer checks. You’ll stand a chance to win an amazing prize that will leave you jumping for joy! So, grab those scissors, unleash your imagination, and get ready to win big with Sty-Lives!

This challenge is running through all social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Don’t forget to tag us!

A new framework for co-creating telehealth for cancer care with the patient community

Louise Binder from SYSF co-authored an excellent and insightful publication titled “A New Framework for Co-Creating Telehealth for Cancer Care with the Patient Community” published in The Patient – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Check it out here.

Patient Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

5-6 PM PT | 8-9 PM ET

AUGUST TOPIC

Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

This call will last 1 hour!

Fireside Sunshine Chit-Chat: A Virtual Summer Catch-Up

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Fireside Chat, where we will embrace the carefree spirit of summer and bask in the sunny side of support! 🌞

This month’s chat will be a summer-themed get-together filled with meaningful conversations and connections. Instead of adhering to a specific agenda, we have designed a relaxed environment for engaging discussions and positive interactions. 🏖️

Whether you have experienced cancer firsthand, are a survivor, a dedicated caregiver, or simply seek understanding companionship, this gathering is tailored to suit your needs. Join us as we share personal journeys, catch up, lend empathetic ears, and forge lasting bonds that will illuminate this summer season. 🌈

Our aim is to cultivate a support community that radiates warmth and comfort. So mark your calendars, share the news, and let’s create unforgettable memories this summer! We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER TODAY!

Move for Melanoma 2023

Move for Melanoma is an activity challenge that takes place across Canada. The goal of the event is to bring awareness to melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer and ocular melanoma, while raising funds to support patients affected with these diseases when they need it most.

This year, the event will take place on September 22-24th, 2023. As always, participants will be able to choose a physical challenge of their choice to complete on the weekend of the event. Participants will form teams and, together with their friends and family, try to reach their personal fundraising goals.

To facilitate the whole thing, again this year, we will be using a custom website that allows people to register, donate, solicit donations, track progress and promote the event all in one place. The website also includes many resources for participants to help them get ready, and a Q&A page for more information.

If you’re interested in joining us, please visit Move for Melanoma 2023 and register now.

Save Your Skin Foundation is the only organization in Canada that supports skin cancer patients financially when they need it most. All the money raised through your donations goes directly to patients in the form of cab fares, treatment costs, flights, accommodation and other necessary but costly expenses incurred while receiving treatment.

Whether you’re a survivor who wants to bring hope to newly diagnosed patients, the family member or friend of a patient who wants to send a powerful message of solidarity, or a patient who wants to help change the face of cancer for ever, we invite you to take a stand against melanoma and to move with us this September!

Hand in hand, we fight melanoma together!

Monthly Patient Fireside Chat – Nurturing Wellness and Self-Care in Cancer Patients, Caregivers & Survivors

JULY TOPIC

Nurturing Wellness and Self-Care in Cancer Patients, Caregivers & Survivors

Join us for our upcoming July Fireside Chat, where we will be focusing on an important topic that often goes unnoticed – the wellness and self-care of patients, caregivers, and survivors who have faced melanoma, non-melanoma, skin cancers, and Ocular/uveal melanoma in the past.

Amidst the recent discussions in oncology and Survivor Day, we believe it’s essential to take a moment to pause, breathe, and check in on everyone’s overall well-being. Our Fireside Chat will provide a safe and supportive environment for open conversations about wellness, self-care, sharing experiences, and exploring strategies for support.

Whether you have personally battled cancer or have been a caregiver or survivor, we invite you to join us for this meaningful discussion. It’s crucial to acknowledge the emotional impact that cancer can have and provide resources and support for maintaining overall well-being throughout the journey.

Together, let’s create a space where we can listen, empathize, and learn from one another. Mark your calendars and join us for this July Fireside Chat dedicated to nurturing wellness and self-care in those affected by various forms of cancer.

REGISTER TODAY!

A Historic Milestone: Manitoba Proclaims May as the First Provincial Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and this year marks a significant achievement as the Province of Manitoba joins the cause by proclaiming May 2023 as the first-ever Provincial Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Save Your Skin Foundation and Ocumel Canada are at the forefront of this initiative, leading local, national, and international campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection of skin cancers.

Discover a comprehensive list of initiatives for Melanoma Skin Cancer Month and Ocular Melanoma awareness HERE.

For the fourth consecutive year, Save Your Skin Foundation’s proclamation initiative has invited Canadian municipalities to take a firm stance against skin cancer and educate their communities about sun safety through mayoral proclamations. As of May 25, 2023, an impressive 43 municipalities have committed to declaring May 2023 as ‘Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.’ Check the list HERE to see if your city is among them.

The Honourable Audrey Gordon, on May 25th, 2023, officially proclaimed the month of May 2023 as Melanoma and Skin Awareness Month in Manitoba. This remarkable step underscores the government’s recognition of the importance of efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of skin cancer.

"The Save Your Skin Foundation's tireless work and initiatives in raising awareness about non-melanoma skin cancers, melanoma, and ocular melanoma through nationwide education, advocacy, and awareness campaigns are truly commendable. Our government acknowledges the significance of efforts to reduce the incidence of skin cancer. I extend my best wishes to Save Your Skin Foundation for the success of their planned events during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month."

Hon. Audrey Gordon

We are immensely grateful to the Honourable Audrey Gordon for her support and belief in the importance of sun safety.

Additionally, members of our SYSF team have had the privilege of presenting to the Mayors and Councils of several municipalities nationwide, sharing their personal experiences as patients and spreading the crucial message of sun safety and early detection of skin cancer.

Monthly Patient Fireside Chats – Survivorship

5pm – 6:30pm PT | 8pm – 9:30pm ET

This year, we’re taking our monthly patient support chats in a new direction!

What’s new?

Our monthly chats are attended by a small standing group of core hosts, including SYSF Founder Kathy Barnard and fellow survivors, who take turns leading the group in a themed topic each month, allowing plenty of time for questions and discussion.

This month’s theme:

This month we’ll be celebrating survivorship and sharing stories of triumph. During this Fireside Chat we’re talking about celebrating cancer survivorship in honour of National Cancer Survivors Day in June with host Rob Stauffer who’s a melanoma survivor from Alberta, Canada.

Move for Melanoma 2023 – It’s a Wrap

Video wrap up

We’d also like to highlight the three fundraising teams that raised the most this year.

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge the many businesses that stepped up to support our event this year. Please show them your support!