On Saturday,
January 16, Baseball Hall of Fame member Mike Schmidt and the Richard David Kann
Melanoma Foundation, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Parks and
Recreation Department, unveiled Palm Beach County’s first BrightGuard™ Sunscreen
Dispenser at the South Florida Fair and encouraged fairgoers to protect
themselves from the sun's harmful UV rays.
Schmidt, a Palm
Beach County resident who played 18 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies and
was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, made a special appearance at
Palm Beach County's exhibit. The 12-time All-Star and three-time National League
MVP shared his story about surviving stage 3 melanoma.
“I spent my life
in the sun without protection. I am currently a melanoma survivor because I see
my dermatologist regularly,” said Schmidt. “I have partnered with the Richard
David Kann Foundation whose mission is to increase the awareness and importance
of sun safety. This mission, to educate our young and old alike, is a perfect
fit for me.”
A baseball theme
was prevalent among Palm Beach County Fair exhibits in anticipation of the new
spring training stadium in West Palm Beach and tied in to this year’s South
Florida Fair theme: Discover The Palm Beaches.
“We think it is
vitally important for people of all ages to use our parks and stay active, but
also be sun safe,” said Parks and Recreation Director Eric Call.
Fairgoers who
visited Parks and Recreation’s exhibit at the Fair learned about the many
services provided by the department, but also received SunSmart™ prevention and
detection brochures and free sunscreen from the BrightGuard™ Sunscreen
Dispenser, courtesy of Katzen Eye Care & Laser Center, before heading out to
the midway.
“Parks and
Recreation provides safe outdoor sports facilities and opportunities for youth
enrichment,” said Lisa Richman, executive director at the Richard David Kann
Melanoma Foundation, “and for 20 years the Richard David Kann Melanoma
Foundation has been empowering families to make the necessary sun safe choices
for healthy lives while enjoying our beautiful outdoor venues.”
For more information about the Richard David
Kann Melanoma Foundation, contact Lisa Richman at (561) 655-9655 or visit
www.melanomafoundation.com.
The Palm Beach
County Parks and Recreation Department operates more than 80 regional, district,
community, beach, and neighborhood parks, spanning several thousand acres. Visit
www.pbcparks.com to learn about
opportunities for healthy, happy living.