(Bethesda, MD, April 27, 2006) – To combat the rising rates of skin cancer and highlight National Melanoma Monday on Monday, May 1, the Suburban Hospital Cancer Program and the Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Foundation have expanded their highly successful Block It Out sun safety program to reach younger elementary school students. For adults, the organizations will provide free skin cancer screenings at Suburban Outpatient Medical Center.

Since 2004, the Block It Out program (which was highlighted on NBC’s Today show) has targeted Montgomery County middle school students with an hour-long curriculum and related projects to promote sun safety. This year, Block It Out has been expanded to include activities for elementary schools. Last week, all Montgomery County elementary schools received a Block It Out package, including a list of suggested activities, flyers on sun safety tips to send home with students, and an invitation to participate in the Block It Out Poster Contest. The Poster Contest winner will receive an iPod; the school with the most entries will receive $250.

On May 1 (National Melanoma Monday), students at Travilah Elementary in Rockville and Ashburton Elementary in Bethesda will design sun-safety-themed posters for the art contest and show off their protective gear: wacky hats and sunglasses. On Tuesday, May 9, Olympic Rowing Gold Medalist and melanoma survivor Peter Cipollone will appear at Tilden Middle School in Bethesda to encourage kids to practice safe sun habits.

Skin cancer is the fastest-growing cancer with more than 1 million new cases diagnosed each year and accounts for more than 50% of all cancers. Since most lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18, capturing kids’ attention on sun safety is a major priority. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood can more than double a person’s risk of developing skin cancer as an adult, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Suburban Hospital is proud to partner with the Malawer Foundation to help children practice sun safety now and avoid skin cancer in the future,” said Kristi Gafford, Director of Oncology Services at Suburban Hospital. “By teaching kids to properly protect themselves and reminding adults to get their skin checked, we can help fight this devastating disease.”

“National Melanoma Monday is an opportunity to get kids thinking about sun safety and help them make sun protection a regular part of their daily routine,” says Leslie Keenan, founding member of the Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Foundation, which posts sun safety tips online at http://www.blockitout.org/.

“We are excited to bring sun safety to our students’ attention,” says Travilah Principal Susan Shenk. “We know they’re already thinking about summer! By having our classes participate in the Block It Out poster contest, we’ll start discussions around sun safety and have fun, too.”

At Tilden Middle School, students will meet Olympic Gold Medalist Cipollone, who was diagnosed with melanoma at age 33. “I now understand that sun safety is a part of a healthy lifestyle,” he says. “All athletes need to be aware of the harmful effects of the sun as they exercise,” says Cipollone, who will also speak at the annual Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Golf Classic and Dinner Fundraiser on Monday, May 8, at Manor Country Club in Rockville, Md.

For adults, annual screenings and early diagnosis are the most effective tools in fighting skin cancer. The Suburban Outpatient Medical Center in Bethesda will host free skin cancer screenings on May 1. Registration is now full, but people are strongly encouraged to contact their dermatologist or call Suburban On-Call at (301) 896-3939 for a referral to arrange a screening appointment.

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Suburban Hospital is a not-for-profit, community-owned hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, that has served Montgomery County and the surrounding area for more than 60 years. The NIH Heart Center at Suburban Hospital brings the clinical and scientific excellence of the National Institutes of Health and Johns Hopkins Medicine to a community-based cardiac surgery program located in the heart of Bethesda.

The Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Foundation was established to heighten awareness of melanoma skin cancer and in memory of Dr. Sidney J. Malawer, who lost his battle with melanoma skin cancer in 2002. A respected Bethesda physician, Dr. Malawer was devoted trustee of Suburban Hospital . The Foundation's mission is to educate the public on ways to prevent skin cancer and promote the importance of early detection through frequent skin screenings.