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

Supporting children affected by a parent's cancer

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 amusement park in Farmingdale, NY.

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 volunteers 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.

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.

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