Stony Brook Cancer Center Supports Sun Safe Fun Day at Adventureland for Kesem Families

Supporting Children Affected by a Parent's Cancer

Stony Brook, NY, May 1, 2024 - Five million children in the United States are coping with a parent's cancer. Kesem at Stony Brook University (SBU) supports these children with free, fun-filled programs that offer a supportive and nurturing community for children affected by a parent's cancer.

Credit: Adventureland

This month's Kesem program was held at Adventureland, where local families enjoyed a free day of fun at the Farmingdale amusement park.

Kesem at SBU is a local chapter of the national organization, Kesem, one of 120 chapters nationwide supporting children through and beyond a parent's cancer. Programs are led by student volunteers recruited from college campus partners throughout the country. They are responsible for planning programs, family and community outreach, and fundraising. Kesem's programs are offered free of charge, and are entirely funded through fundraisers, private donations, and community support.

Stony Brook Cancer Center's Cancer Prevention in Action (CPiA) program is one of the newest supporters of Kesem at SBU. CPiA has donated supplies - such as sunscreen and pop-up tents - to help Kesem's children, families, and student volunteer stay sun safe at their outdoor programs.

CPiA is a New York State Department of Health grant supporting cancer prevention in local communities. Prevention of skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the U.S., is a focus area for the program, which works throughout Long Island to promote sun safety and prevent skin cancer.

Both Suffolk and Nassau Counties lead the state with the highest average number of new melanoma cases, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Skin cancer can be prevented by reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and indoor tanning devices. CPiA works to raise awareness about skin cancer prevention and partners with municipalities, schools, businesses, and community organizations to adopt policies that reduce UV exposure and promote sun safety.

Kesem at SBU is CPiA's newest partner, and has adopted sun safety policies to reduce UV exposure for children, and, student volunteers. Kesem joins 20 other Long Island organizations that have adopted sun safety policies with CPiA, including Adventureland. The amusement park was one of CPiA's first partners, adopting sun-safety policies for their guests and employees in 2022. Adventureland now makes sunscreen available to all guests and employees, free of charge.

Committing to skin cancer prevention is just one of the many ways Adventureland is giving back to its community. Adventureland's Helping Hands Foundation has raised over $1 million for Long Island communities and organizations, as well as over $200,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors.

Kesem's families were happy to receive a helping hand from Adventureland, with free park admission for a day of family fun. Families and volunteers wore big smiles and lots of sunscreen all day long, thanks to Stony Brook Cancer Center, Adventureland, and Kesem at Stony Brook University.

For more information on Stony Brook Cancer Center's CPiA program visit takeactionagainstcancer.com.

CPiA is supported with funds from Health Research, Inc. and New York State.

About Kesem: Kesem supports children ages 6-18 through and beyond their parent's cancer with free, fun-filled, creative programs and a lasting community. Kesem is the leading national organization dedicated to this unique population of over 5 million children. Kesem is comprised of more than 4,000 volunteer college student leaders at over 120 college chapters nationwide. Kesem serves 7,500-10,000 children yearly through free year-round programming, including our flagship summer program, Camp Kesem, the national virtual offering, Club Kesem, and day programs. The Stony Brook University chapter serves children across Long Island and surrounding communities. To learn more, visit kesem.org.

About Adventureland: Adventureland is an amusement park in East Farmingdale, New York, located on Route 110 (Broad Hollow Road). Adventureland has been Long Island's main amusement park since 1962. Adventureland has rides for all ages making it the perfect place for family fun! Adventureland is opened seasonally: weekends in March, April, May, September and October and all days in the summer. To learn more, visit adventureland.us.

About Stony Brook Cancer Center: Stony Brook Cancer Center is Suffolk County's cancer care leader and a leader in education and research. With more than 20,000 inpatient and 70,000 outpatient visits annually, the Cancer Center includes 12 multidisciplinary teams: Breast Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Gastrointestinal Cancer; Genitourinary Cancer; Gynecologic Cancer; Head and Neck Cancer, and Thyroid Cancer; Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplant; Lung Cancer; Melanoma and Soft Tissue Sarcomas; Neurologic Oncology; Orthopedic Oncology; and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. The cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.stonybrookmedicine.edu.

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