May is Melanoma Awareness Month

TORONTO — To kick off Melanoma Awareness Month, the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund (DCMF) is hosting its annual fundraiser at the Liberty Grand in Toronto on May 7. 

Fresh off an exciting year since the launch of the video Dear 16-Year-Old Me, which became a viral sensation, this event is a celebration of the video’s success, with the goal of raising funds to continue the work DCMF does to generate melanoma awareness, as well as aid in funding research of this deadly disease


Dear 16-Year-Old Me was launched online on May 2, 2011, and within the first two weeks had been viewed on YouTube by more than one million people world-wide. Since its debut, it has been seen by over 5.5 million people, was the seventh most shared video in 2011 and was translated (due to overwhelming request) into five languages. The video has been viewed in some 150 countries around the world. It’s shown in doctors’ offices, at medical conferences and is used as a teaching tool at some of the most prestigious medical schools in the world.

The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund, established in 2007, aims to save lives by promoting awareness of this potentially deadly disease. It is the most common cancer in the 25-to-29 age group and second most common in the 15-to-29 age group, and its incidence is increasing at alarming rates while the incidence of other cancers is decreasing. 

The good news is that the risk of melanoma can be significantly decreased by reducing exposure to UV radiation, and that the prognosis for melanoma patients is excellent if the melanoma is detected in its earliest stage. But despite increasing public awareness of the dangers of UV radiation, many people still do not understand how dangerous excessive exposure can be, particularly before the age of 18. In addition, in the early stages, moles may look harmless and cause no discomfort, and therefore be ignored. Many people don’t realize that something small on their skin can kill them if not treated promptly.

The May 7 celebration takes place in the Liberty Grand Artifacts Room at 25 British Columbia Rd. at Exhibition Place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

Tickets are $125, with all proceeds going to DCMF. Guests are encouraged to wear black, the melanoma awareness colour. 

For tickets to the fundraiser, visit www.dcmf.ca or e-mail

[email protected].