Helping Augusta be Sun Safe with funding from Unite in the Fight 

Melanoma is on the rise in Richmond County, GA and a team at the Georgia Cancer Center is looking to put a stop to it.  

“Although skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, it is also one of the most preventable given the right resources and is highly treatable when detected early,” said Nyree Riley, an Outreach Coordinator at the Georgia Cancer Center. 

There are many factors that play into the rise of skin cancer in our area. Affordability of sunscreen, lack of patient education, and de-prioritization of protection are all things that the Sun Safe team is hoping to combat with their program, ‘Sun Safe Augusta: Safeguarding Skin Health with Sun Safety Education and Public Sunscreen Access’. 

Brenda Santellano, MD; Jorge Cortes, MD; Kendall Buchanan, MD; Outreach Coordinators Riley and Maryclaire Regan, and medical students Mitchell Hanson, Paige Hinkley, and Anderson McNeil, make up the Sun Safe team. They were inspired by IMPACT Melanoma, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of melanoma in the United States. 

They plan to partner the GCC and the Medical College of Georgia with IMPACT Melanoma to create a Practice Safe Skin Campaign in the Augusta Community. With funding from Unite in the Fight Against Cancer, they will install and maintain five sunscreen dispenser stations for public use and have one mobile unit that can be utilized to promote skin cancer education and awareness at community events lead by the GCC’S Outreach team.  

Unite in the Fight Against Cancer is an annual community celebration honoring all who have been affected by this disease, while raising funds for patient-centered programs.  

“Given the significant role of early-life sun exposure in the development of melanoma, implementing a long-term sunscreen intervention could greatly enhance skin cancer prevention,” said Santellano. 

If you would like to learn more about this program, follow us on Facebook to be kept up to date on it and the other programs funded by Unite in the Fight Against Cancer. Unite in the Fight Against Cancer will be held on May 3rd 2025. You can find more information by visiting our website and Facebook event page. We encourage all to join us in the fight against cancer.