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Organizers have deemed this year’s Safe in the Shade Walk for Melanoma held May 21 at Maumee Bay Park, a glowing success.
“We more than tripled the number of participants,” said Eleanor Riffle, who with co-organizer Cindy Pickett, started the non-profit Safe in the Shade organization, which raises funds for skin cancer research and awareness.
Our first year in 2009, we didn’t have good weather – there was even lightning early in the morning – and we had 41 people,” Riffle said. “This year we had almost 200."
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Leslie, Jeff & Aaron Straka,
of Genoa, came out to show
their support for skin cancer
awareness at the recent Safe
in the Shade walk. |
“We loved seeing our regular attendees, and we were especially excited to see so many new faces,” she added.
The event raised about $4,000, before expenses. In addition to raising funds, Riffle and Pickett are dedicated to getting the word out about sun safety and the dangers of melanoma. “Awareness is the first key,” Riffle said. “Protection is the next. We all buckle our babies and children in when we get in the car…it’s also important to protect them from the potentially dangerous effects of the sun.”
“We appreciate all the donations and above all people’s time,” Riffle said, adding that next year’s event will be held Saturday, May 19.
Pickett and Riffle are in the process of applying for grants through the SHADE Foundation to provide shade covers for local playgrounds.
For more information, visit SafeintheShadeOhio.com.
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