PBC Parks Teams up with Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt and Melanoma Foundation to Strike out Skin Cancer

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jan. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- 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, will encourage sun safety by unveiling Palm Beach County’s first BrightGuard™ Sunscreen Dispenser at the South Florida Fair.

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, is a melanoma survivor. The 12-time All-Star and three-time National League MVP will make a special appearance in Expo Center East from 10-11 a.m. on January 16 to help draw attention to the potentially deadly effects of overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Nearly one in five people in the U.S. will develop some form of skin cancer during their lives, according to the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation.

“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.”

This year’s South Florida Fair theme is Discover The Palm Beaches and will focus on the many things to do and see in Palm Beach County. A baseball theme will be prevalent among Palm Beach County Fair exhibits in anticipation of the new spring training stadium in West Palm Beach.

“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.

Visitors to the fair are encouraged to visit Parks and Recreation’s exhibit to receive SunSmart™ prevention and detection brochures and information about Palm Beach County’s park system, and to apply free sunscreen 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.”