The Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation Announces "Shade Shuttle" Launch and Return Home to Raleigh, NC
The Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation is raising awareness and educating the community about melanoma by launching the "Shade Shuttle" and a multi-state tour. A polka dot bus featuring awareness facts about the deadliest form of skin cancer will return home to Raleigh, NC on April 12, 2017 after making the journey down from New Jersey.
Photography by Stacey Sprenz
Currently 1 in 5 people in the US will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime with melanoma being the deadliest. In 2016 the US Surgeon General declared skin cancer an epidemic in this country, yet it is highly preventable. Melanoma does not discriminate against age, race, gender or skin color, and the “Shade Shuttle” is setting out on a multi-state tour to spread awareness.
Recently a school bus was donated to the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation in Egg Harbor, NJ, and was wrapped and branded as the "Shade Shuttle.” After making stops in Hoboken, NJ and Richmond, VA, the bus will be converted into a mobile education unit in Raleigh, NC with plans to offer free skin screenings when possible.
On Wednesday, April 12, 2017, the "Shade Shuttle" will continue home to Raleigh, NC. The bus will be parked at Harvest Plaza Shopping Center near the corner of Lead Mine Road and Harvest Oaks Road from 11am to 1pm. Tracy Callahan, founder of Polka Dot Mama, will have a booth outside of Sassool with free tubes of sunscreen and sunglasses as well as information about melanoma.
Trimark, a Raleigh, NC videography company will be documenting the "Shade Shuttle" journey and plans to produce a short video about the multi-state tour and the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation's mission.
About the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation
Founded in 2015 by a three time melanoma survivor Tracy Callahan, the Polka Dot Mama Melanoma Foundation is a non-profit organization that funds research, raises awareness and educates the community about melanoma. Learn more at polkadotmama.org.
Connect with the Polka Dot Melanoma Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photographs of the bus and previous tour stops are located in Dropbox. Photography by Stacey Sprenz.