The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund will launch its new "Check Yourself" cancer awareness program at Metallica's 2013 Orion Music + More festival at Belle Isle outside of Detroit, Michigan this weekend (June 8-9).
The organization will participate in the festival's "My World Village" designated area for promoting a healthy planet and healthy lifestyles. Wendy Dio, widow of the late singer and fund president/founder, along with the fund's co-founder/medical director Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, MD., will pass out sunscreen from the Dio Cancer Fund booth in an effort to educate attendees about skin cancer awareness and prevention due to the damaging effects of the sun at this and other outdoor summer events.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States — one in five Americans will develop a form of it — and summer events like the Orion festival result in long exposure to the damaging rays of the sun. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. In keeping with the Fund's mission of cancer prevention, research and education, the "Check Yourself" campaign encourages people to be aware of preventative measures available, self-detection and when to seek the advice of a physician.
"I would like to thank our friends Metallica and their management for giving our organization this opportunity to bring awareness of skin cancer directly to their fans in this manner," said Wendy Dio. "This is a very important message because early detection does save lives."
For full details on the weekend festival, visit orionmusicandmore.com
The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund has already raised more than $600,000 in its short history. Monies raised to date have been committed to the cancer research work of the T.J. Martell Foundation for cancer, aids and leukemia research and the gastric cancer research unit of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where Ronnie was treated for gastric cancer during the last six months of his life.
See also:
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VIDEO: Dio previews Live In Philly 1986 DVD
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