Meet The Charity: The Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign Of Nassau

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Local charities are the unsung heroes of our communities. Nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations strive to create lasting change and positively impact the lives of those around them.

Some people start organizations as a way to cope with grief, some see an issue they want to tackle, and some want to bring lasting change. Sometimes, all those reasons apply.

Patch wants to highlight your local charity and connect it with community members who want to help and do good, so that way, more people can benefit. Here is just one of many charities doing terrific work in your community.

What is your name?

Sharon Galvin

What is the name of your charity?

Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign (CCMAC)

What is your position within your charity?

Board Member/ volunteer

What community is your organization based in?

Nassau County

Link to your website

CCMAC.org

What is your mission?

The Colette Coyne Memorial Melanoma Foundation is dedicated to:

• Increasing public awareness regarding the dangers and causes of Skin Cancer/Melanoma.
• Early education of our youth, families and the community.
• Changing attitudes, thinking, and behaviors regarding unprotected exposure to the Sun’s UV Rays, tanning, and tanning bed use.
• Advocating for Laws and Policies designed to protect individuals and communities from the Sun’s UV Rays, and use of tanning beds.
• Increasing funding for Education and Research.

CCMAC is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

What does your charity do to further its mission? Please list examples.

We go into schools and participate in other community events to educate the youth on sun safety. We have a yearly walk at Eisenhower Park with free skin checks by dermatologists who volunteer their time. We participate in May is Melanoma Awareness Month kickstart at the Nassau County Legislature. We recently donated all the sunscreen for the World Cricket Match at Eisenhower Park. We were extremely instrumental in getting legislation to require an age requirement for tanning salons.

What inspired you to start your charity?

I became a volunteer with this organization after I had my second surgery to remove a melanoma tumor from my left lung. This organization began after the death of Colette Coyne at the young age of 30. It has been 25 years.

How can people help you accomplish your organization's mission or get involved in events?

We can always use volunteers to help out at our walk. Also people can always refer other people to us who have concerns about a growth or mole on their skin.

What is the most memorable moment you've had since starting your organization?

For me the most memorable moment I’ve had since I began volunteering for CCMAC.. was taking part in my first walk/ run that was after my lung surgery and seeing my 2 young kids holding signs and cheering for me as I turned the corner towards the finish line. Nothing is better than that!!

What else would you like people to know about your charity?

We are always looking for was to help in the community whether it be offering education, free screenings or donating coverings for dugouts and sidelines in youth sports.

What are your organization's social media pages or handles?
Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign

Do you help run a charity?

Nominate it here or share this link with someone who does.