Willing to share your stories with teens?

Friends of MPIP:

Friends of MPIP:

I have been speaking to groups and organizations on sun safety and the need for research support for MRF for the past 3 years. I speak to many age groups, but most of my upcoming talks include mainly teens at local area high schools. Usually I organize my talks with high schoolers starting with a brief bio of my own experience as a mel survivor then quiz my audience on their knowledge of melanoma followed by a video presentation of a young victim of melanoma, Mollie Biggane. My talks usually end with skin and sun safety tips followed by a question/answer period.

While this format works for the most part, I have found that my teen audiences, especially, are most curious about people closer to their own age who have melanoma (I do share a couple of stories of young people from our area). Obviously, the shock of the realization that it is the 15-25 year old age group who is most seeing an increase in mel cases catches their attention.

What I would like to add to my talks are more personal, current bios. of  MELANOMA  fighters who are willing to share their stories along with a few pictures. For example, I share pics of my many scars and photos that were taken of me during treatments such as gamma knife. I also have post-craniotomy pics that include my almost unrecognizable steroid self, which always shocks them. But I am going on 48 so my story still may not have the impact I wish to have.

These are the sort of stories and pics I'm looking for if any of you are willing to share them.  It's a great way to get the word out about melanoma, and I would be privileged and grateful to be able to share your stories with young people in the hope that it might help them to lower their risk and increase their knowledge of how melanoma may affect their lives.

I know that people are hesitant to share their real names or pics, so if it's anonymity you wish I can just use your first name and get a basic photo release that your pics will not be used for anything other than these presentations. Please contact me at my email: [email protected] with questions or stories to share.

Any other suggestions about how I may better go about this process would also be appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Karen