On Saturday March 1st, Sunlight Mountain Resort hosted the 6th Annual Melanoma Awareness Day in honor of Brad Lanpher. Dr. Karen Nern, a dermatologist who works with Vail Dermatology donated her time by screening for skin cancer. She visited with 45 guests and found 5 potential skin cancer situations.
Thanks to the support of many, this event raised $2,255 which was donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation. Along with a free skin screening, Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society had a presence and helped create awareness for Melanoma and other skin cancers. Rocky Mountain Sunscreen provided free sunscreen to the public. With the help of sponsors and donors, Melanoma Awareness Day was a big success.
Every eight minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Melanoma Skin Cancer. Because of this, we are glad that Sunlight can provide a free annual skin screening in hopes to decrease the rate of Melanoma. According to statistics, every 57 minutes someone dies of Melanoma. Early detection and bringing awareness can help save lives and reduce the rate of skin cancer.
Brad Lanpher 1969-2005
Go Big or Go Home! That was Brad’s philosophy in skiing and other areas in life that he was so passionate about. As was quoted in the Westward newspaper interview with Brad in November 1999 regarding Sunlight Ski Resort “Frying Pan is the one I really like-you come off this high speed groomer and pop some air, tuck into the trees, and there are all these little alleys and a couple of launches at the end”, he says. “You can go flying through there!”
Brad was a graduate of CherryCreekHigh School and ColoradoStateUniversity. Brad had a smile that lit up the room and a great sense of humor. He was known for his Brad-isms and his spontaneity – always the life of the party! He had a passion for so many things – North Carolina basketball (Go Tarheels!), Michael Jordan, Viking football, soccer, golf, and tennis shoes of all kinds. He was known at Sunlight for creating the “Bradley Schlopper” which is a hamburger with green chili and oyster crackers.
His life was cut short by Melanoma, a skin cancer that began with a mole on his chest that metastasized. He fought this terrible disease for 6 months and even skied at Sunlight 3 months before he died at the age of 35. He will always be remembered for the love and kindness he showed his family, friends, and strangers that he met. Remember, have fun in the sun but wear your sunscreen and pass the word that early detection is the key to successful treatment of skin cancer.
