Sixth Graders Spread The Word About Sun Safety

Six graders at Garden City Middle School started the summer armed with information about the dangers of too much sun and shared that information with at least one other person through a letter writing contest sponsored by the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation. First, the students watched a video about sun safety. Then, they chose a person to write to about what they had learned. The winning letters-written by Nicole Bommarito, Nick Dimmling, and Andrew Magdich-stressed the importance of limiting time in the sun (especially in the middle of the day), using sunscreen (even on cloudy days), wearing protective clothing, and a once-a-month skin check. According to the students, moles that bleed or are tender, that are irregularly shaped, contain many shades of brown and black, or that change in size or shape require a trip to the doctor for evaluation. The foundation was established in memory of Garden City resident Mollie Biggane, who contracted melanoma and died in 2000 at age 20.