STYLE 1 MEDIA >>> SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION SUMMER BENEFIT

Skin Cancer Foundation: A Night The Stars Shine On

Central Park Zoo, NY, NY | 06.28.2011 | by Merry Esparza

Style 1 Media On June 28th the Skin Cancer Foundation presented its annual "A Night The Stars Shine On" event, a summer evening of cocktails, food, and music to benefit the Foundation's research initiatives. Held at the Central Park Zoo, this year's event included access to animal exhibits and a spectacular performance by the Central Park sea lions. Notable attendees included Skin Cancer Foundation President/Founder Dr. Perry Robins; Board Members Elizabeth Robins, Esq, and Mindy Gorman; Extra host and skin cancer survivor, Jerry Penacoli; Project Runway alumni Kevin Christiana, Stephen "Suede" Baum, and Casanova; and former news anchor Lynne White. (left: Elizabeth Robins, Esq; Dr. Perry Robins; Mindy Gorman)

Skin Cancer Foundation President/Founder Dr. Perry Robins, a renowned Mohs surgeon, kicked off the speaking program, sometimes accompanied by the singing of the Central Park sea lions. Dr. Robins' daughter, Board Member/Event Co-Chair Elizabeth Robins, Esq, took the podium next. Board Member/Event Co-Chair Mindy Gorman was joined by her daughters, Dani Pollack and Ricki Penn. The girls movingly eulogized their father whom they lost to skin cancer. Ms. Gorman founded Live, Love, Laugh, which is now part of the Skin Cancer Foundation. Extra host and skin cancer survivor Jerry Penacoli spoke eloquently to the audience about his battle with melanoma. Event Committee Member Leena Gurevich also spoke.

Guests enjoyed wine and specialty cocktails, passed hors d'oeuvres, and culinary delicacies offered at tasting tables. DJ Ray Jarrell provided musical entertainment throughout the evening, and the sea lions delighted guests with their antics. The raffle featured luxury prizes including a Vespa motor scooter.

The Skin Cancer Foundation, founded in 1979, is a leader in the fight against skin cancer. Led by Executive Director Mary Stine, its mission is to educate the public and medical professionals about sun safety, protection, and the need for early detection and prompt, effective treatment. The Foundation is the only international organization solely devoted to decreasing the incidence of skin cancer through awareness and research.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world and melanoma is its most serious form. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 3.5 million skin cancers in over two million people are diagnosed annually. A visit to www.skincancer.org will reveal some startling facts, many of which are unknown to the general public. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Additionally, every year in the U.S. more new skin cancer cases are discovered than the total number of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer cases combined.

These rates are frustrating since skin cancer is primarily a lifestyle disease. About 65 percent of melanoma and 90 percent of nonmelanoma cases can be attributed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. A single blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life. Yet many people continue to strive for that "youthful glow" by using tanning beds or sunbathing outdoors without appropriate protection.

For more information and to read about the FDA's new sunscreen regulations, please visit: www.skincancer.org.