Tanning Bed Pledge
Our mission is to save lives through education about the prevention
and early detection of skin cancer, especially melanoma.
The Foundation’s vision is “to educate children throughout the country and give them
the skills necessary to make healthy sun safety choices throughout their lives.”
As the Foundation grows we will continue to advocate for school districts throughout
the country to require sun safety education as part of their curriculum.
Tanning Bed Pledge
Read the tanning facts and take the pledge!
- The World Health Organization has determined that UV rays from tanning beds cause cancer.
- People who use tanning beds once a month before the age of 35 increase their melanoma risk by 59%.
- Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes. It is the second most common cancer for young adults aged 15-29 years old. Rates for melanoma are increasing faster than nearly all other cancers.
- It is not safe to tan in the sun or in a tanning booth. Using a tanning bed for 20 minutes is the same as spending 4 hours at the beach with no sun protection at all. Tanning beds put out 3-6 times the amount of radiation given off by the sun.
- For most people (lighter skinned), 5-10 minutes of unprotected sun 2-3 times a week is enough to help your skin make Vitamin D, which is essential for your health. GETTING MORE SUN WON’T increase your Vitamin D level, but it will increase your risk of skin cancer. Vitamin D also comes from orange juice, milk, fish, and supplements.
If you want to look tan, try a self-tanning product or a safe organic spray tan. Be sure to use sunscreen with SPF30 – 50+, as most self tanners and spray tans do not provide any sun protection.
THE TANNING PLEDGE!
“I pledge not to go tanning prior to the prom or another school sponsored event/dance, which will be held during the 2015/16 school year. By this, I mean that I will not intentionally tan by lying out in the sun or using tanning beds.
I realize that by getting a tan, I am sharply increasing my chances of developing melanoma, which can be FATAL if not caught in time.
I have read the FACTS OF TANNING and understand the dangers of tanning beds and lying out in the sun.”
Current Events
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SAMPOSIUM 2019: Bringing students together for education, awareness and the prevention of melanoma
On October 12, over 100 students representing seven Palm Beach County Florida schools gathered at the Keiser University Flagship Campus in West Palm Beach for the 2019 RDK Melanoma Foundation Students Against Melanoma SAMPOSIUM. The purpose: to bring peers together...

Why Israel’s skin cancer rates are dropping
In these hot summer months when we’re all outdoors and enjoying the sun, it’s more important than ever to protect against skin cancer. While the sun offers us much needed vitamin D, there are also unfortunately many harmful effects of too much sun exposure. In this...
The SunSmart America™ K-12 Curriculum and Resources help promote sun safety education, prevention and early detection of skin cancer.
SunSmart America™ Resources
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SunSmart America™ Training
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SunSmart America™ Schools
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Palm Beach County Teachers
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Contact the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
The Melanoma Foundation is one of the first organizations in the country that has been on the cutting edge of skin cancer preventive education and the only organization in Florida. After extensive review of health education literature, the Foundation selected the successful SunSmart curricula from Australia on which to base its many programs and adapt to local educational standards and environment. The Foundation utilizes SunSmart America™ for grades K-12.
Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
v: 561-655-9655 | f: 561-655-9650
2751 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2A, West Palm Beach, Florida 33405