Duane Braswell is a recent skin cancer survivor whom is thankful for many things this holiday season. After being diagnosed with both basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in August 2011 and having it successfully excised, he came to the conclusion that there is not enough awareness around the dangers of skin cancer. With the support of his family, friends and outside donors, Duane has arranged to complete a 2,500 bike circuit starting in Phoenix, AZ and ending in Washington, DC to raise money for awareness and further research into skin cancer.

In the upper atmosphere, about 6 to 30 miles above Earth, the stratospheric ozone protects life from the sun’s ultraviolet B radiation (UVB). Over decades, it has been damaged by cumulative pollutants. Now, every year, for over 20 years, a significantly depleted layer of ozone known as the ozone hole forms over the Antarctic. This ozone loss imposes a serious health threat for humans, in particular our skin and eyes.

October 9, 2011 marks the first NFL game dedicated to Melanoma Prevention. The Jacksonville Jaguars have teamed up with the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) to spread the word on skin cancer prevention and detection.

Junior sailors must be able to swim, wear a personal floatation device, and stay calm in an emergency. So where’s the requirement for sun protection? This question inspired the newly released book for pre-teens “Danger At Graves Light”.

It’s back, a new season of “The Big C”, starting on Monday, June 27, 2011 on Showtime. “The Big C” tells the story of Cathy Jamison, played by Laura Linney, a wife and mother diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma. Her cancer forces her to shake up her life and find hope and humor in spite of her grim situation. The show may not always accurately portray the life of someone battling skin cancer; however, it brings the topic to the center stage without scaring off viewers due to its morose background.

The FDA recently announced new guidelines that sunscreen manufacturers will be required to follow for over-the-counter sunscreen labeling. Now in order to earn a “broad spectrum” designation, sunscreens must protect from both UVB (burning) rays and UVA (aging) rays. Read on for a summary of improvements as well as how Coolibar can help ease confusion.

If dad loves to spend time outdoors, you may want to consider giving him the gift of sun protective clothing this Father’s Day.

On May 20, 2011, the Stay Out of the Sun Run (SOSR) Foundation held their annual walk/race in Rochester, MN that promotes awareness of the dangers of sun exposure and supports melanoma research and education. All proceeds from the SOSR are donated to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center for melanoma research and education. Coolibar was there to participate in this event for the 5th year in a row.

Sunscreen expert Kirk Minster from Fallene, Ltd., the maker of Total Block and Cotz Sunscreen, passes his wealth of sunscreen knowledge onto you – our reader.

The third story in our series on Skin Cancer Survivors for Melanoma Month. Our survivors have shared their personal stories to remind us of the importance of being SunAWARE. In 2007, Tim went to a Mayo Clinic dermatologist to have a mole on his left arm looked at. The doctor removed it right away so it could be tested. A few years prior, Tim had this same mole tested, and it was fine. But this time, the biopsy showed that the mole had turned into Melanoma.