Team Running for Cover

Marathoner/ Dermatology and Skin Health Physician Assistant, Michelle Roy will be once again going the distance to support the Melanoma Foundation of New England!

If you have not heard.. our Physician Assistant, Michelle, is again running the Boston Marathon this April for the Melanoma Foundation of New England with Team Running for Cover.

Roy is running her 2nd Boston Marathon with Team Run for Cover in honor of her patients brave fight against skin cancer and the families that support them. Roy is one of 29 team members who have pledged to raise $250,000 at the marathon to help fund MFNE’s melanoma education, prevention and support programs.

The Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE) is dedicated to educating the public about sun-safe behavior and the importance of melanoma prevention and early detection.  With marathon legend Bill Rodgers as honorary Team Captain, MFNE’s race team Running for Cover has raised over $1,000,000 at the Boston Marathon through the Boston Athletic Association’s (B.A.A.) charity program.  MFNE is celebrating 12 years of Marathon participation in 2015.

Roy is currently in training for the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon.  “I am running for the Melanoma Foundation in honor of the patients I treat every day, but I will also run for everyone who has suffered or lost a life to melanoma. It is not everyday that we have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life. I am honored to use my love of running to help this important cause.”

About MFNE:

MFNE is a non-profit organization that works to reduce the incidence of melanoma in the New England region. As the largest non-profit in the region dedicated to skin cancer awareness and early detection, MFNE provides a variety of free education programs targeting the prevention of skin cancer for both children in adults. MFNE also assists patients and their caregivers struggling with melanoma by offering support groups and their "Billy's Buddies” program.  Learn more about MFNE and team Running for Cover at www.mfne.org.

Melanoma Facts:

• Melanoma rates are increasing faster than nearly all other cancers.
• Melanoma is a relatively easy disease to prevent.
• Most melanomas are easy to stop if caught soon enough — all it takes is a yearly skin exam.
• Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes.
• Melanoma is the most common cancer among women aged 25-32.
• Melanoma is the most common cancer in men over the age of 50 - more common than colon, prostate, and lung cancer.
• Melanoma is the 2nd most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15 to 29 years old.
• As many as 10,000 people a year die from melanoma.
• The New England states have a higher than average rate of melanoma.

About the Boston Athletic Association:

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2014. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

If you are a melanoma patient and have not had your skin check yet, please call the office to schedule your appointment today. 603-742-5556.

If you would like to donate to Michelle's cause, please go to: www.crowdrise.com/michelleroy