News

They put their lives at risk to defend our nation and trust the U.S. Government will provide for their health and well being along the way.  As we honor Veterans and those currently serving in our Military, let’s take a moment to consider an unexpected risk they did not sign up for; death from melanoma and other skin cancers. 

Melanoma diagnosis is on the rise both among veterans and in active duty service personnel. The numbers are especially high among young people currently serving in the Navy, Marines and Air Force. Those who serve as pilots have the highest rate of diagnosis. 

It’s such a problem that the U.S. Department of Defense has targeted and directed 40 million dollars to melanoma research for Fiscal Year 2022.  Why is military personnel, both past and present, at an accelerated for melanoma? Consider this:

Active military are exposed to extensive and dangerous levels of UV radiation while flying in the air, deployed on ships and assigned to remote harsh environments such as deserts. Sunscreen and UPF 50 clothing are not routinely available nor are annual skin screenings through trained dermatologists.  Add to that years in service, and it is no surprise that so much money needs to be poured into treating melanoma and other skin cancers among our military. 

Here’s a thought; wouldn’t melanoma prevention be a better solution; both in terms of life and economics?  After all, melanoma is one of the most preventable of cancers. 

Prevention is as simple as establishing sun safe education training, providing and distributing ample amounts of sunscreen, incorporating the use of UPF 50 materials in U.S. Military uniforms and off duty attire, and most importantly making routine dermatological skin screenings part of annual military health checks. 

The brave men and women defending our country have enough to worry about. Let’s take melanoma and skin cancers off their plate. 

Interested in learning more? Here’s some insight. 

https://www.skincancer.org/blog/skin-cancer-risk-military/

Bright Lights! Big City! On August 17th, CMF lit up Times Square in New York City with plenty of Claire Coral! The Claire Marie Foundation was one of a handful of nonprofits featured in Times Square as part of  National NonProfit Day! Our :15 second commercial ran 100 times in 6 hours – with 1.5 million impressions and thousands of people reached! That doesn’t even count our social media impact!

 Raising awareness of adolescent and young adult melanoma with the knowledge it can be prevented is the heart of CMF’s mission. We can’t imagine a better way to do it! Co-Founder CEO and Claire’s Mom, Marianne Banister, was joined in the big reveal by Claire Marie Board Members, Jaqueline Smith and Julianne Kavoussi as well as Young Professional Ambassadors Sarah Emrich, Becky Kavoussi and Collegiate Ambassadors Molly Sharpe and Anna Sharpe.

The event was especially meaningful for Claire’s mom.  “Claire would be SO excited!  She absolutely loved the energy and excitement of New York!  She had so many happy adventures while visiting the city with her sister Hillary and friends. We can only imagine how excited she would be to see the impact of her legacy in Times Square – spreading so much awareness  and hope in the fight against adolescent and young adult melanoma.”

We cannot say it enough! Make sure you are screened annually for melanoma and other skin cancers. It is essential to nip melanoma in the bud, halting its ability to move through your body and threaten your life. But who does the screening and how they screen can make all the difference.  Here’s some tips to keep in mind!

Rule #1: Skip Your Primary Care Physician

Surprise! Pediatricians and General Practitioners do not routinely study dermatology in their medical preparation. That means they are not trained to detect skin cancer and melanoma at its earliest point of origin. The result; melanoma is often overlooked or misdiagnosed at the earliest stage when it is most highly treatable – especially in young people.

Rule #2: Find the Right Dermatologist

Before you book your neighbor’s favorite dermatologist, listen to this: not all dermatologists are equally trained nor have equal focus. Some specialize more in the aesthetic and cosmetic care of the skin. Others offer greater attention to the disease aspects of the skin. Then there are those who are equally balanced in both specialties. Do your homework before making an appointment. Sometimes you can get faster access by booking a screening with a Dermatological Physicians Assistant who has been trained specifically in dermoscopy to screen for melanoma. It’s all a matter of a dermatologists training, focus and expertise – and your ability to find the right person for you.

Rule #3: Advocate For Yourself!

Ask a few questions and make sure you are scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist who meets the Gold Standard of skin screening. This is no time to be shy! You should ask about their screening procedures and expect the following:

• The dermatologist will put you into a gown and do a full body check for moles and any lesions. That includes the feet, nails, head and genital areas. If a dermatologist suggests you don’t need a full body screening because you are “too young for melanoma”- find a new dermatologist

• Make sure the dermatologist uses dermoscopy. It is a screening technique that uses skin surface microscopy. It can also be called epiluminoscopy and epiluminescent microscopy. It allows the dermatologist to look into the layers, color patterns and changes deep within the mole, rather than just glancing at the surface.  If a dermatologist wants to evaluate your moles with only their naked eye rather than use a dermatoscope – find a new dermatologist.

Rule #4: What If Something Is Found On My Skin?

Finding an atypical or precancerous mole doesn’t mean you have melanoma. But, it does mean something is changing on a cellular level. Since melanoma in adolescents and young adults is more aggressive and more invasive than in the older adult population – it should always be considered a victory to have an atypical mole removed and evaluated before it can evolve further. Remember: Remove the mole – Remove the risk. 

• If a mole is found to be questionable, the dermatologist will determine if it should be removed for biopsy or if it should be watched. The appropriate time period for “watching” is three months.  You should also keep a close eye on the mole in question and look for any other changes in your skin. Don’t hesitate to call if something evolves and changes before the scheduled follow-up appointment. And keep that appointment!

• Many dermatologists will photograph moles they want to keep an eye on to best detect any change. Still others may recommend “mole-mapping” technology in families at high risk for the disease. This involves full body photography. 

Congratulations to Brigitte Gendron, the 2022 Recipient of the Claire Marie Scholarship in Arts & Design!

The Notre Dame Preparatory Senior will begin her design studies at Fordham this Fall! Once she gets unpacked and settled, Brigitte is excited to immerse herself in the study of Visual and Concept Arts.  Her dream is to channel all her passion and love of design into a career in the entertainment industry;  in film, television or game design. 

 Every year since 2015, the $5,000 award is given to a graduating senior from Claire’s alma mater, Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson Maryland to support the recipient’s desire to study design arts in college. It was a dream of Claire’s to launch a career in interior design and we are thrilled to see other young women share the same passion and excitement. Each year, our winners are selected by an exquisite team of esteemed design professionals from across the country! They bring expertise in fine arts, theatrical, animation, interiors, fashion, photography and film. Our thanks to our CMF Scholarship Committee: Katie Fico with Walt Disney Animation Studio, Los Angeles based Interior Designer Stacey Vuduris, Theatrical Designer Timothy Swiss of Los Angeles, Photographer Susannah Dowell of Colorado, Muralist and Freelance Artist Katherine Boggs of Atlanta and Couture Designer Ella Pritsker of Maryland.

Brigitte joins past recipients who have studied in Claire’s memory at University of Ohio at Miami, University of Southern California, Rollins College, University of Virginia ,Savannah College of Arts & Design and University of Maryland Baltimore County. 

Brigitte, all the best in your academic and professional adventures! We can’t wait to see the magic you create to brighten the world!

Because at the Claire Marie Foundation we believe in honoring Claire’s sassy, fun and joyous spirit while raising awareness of adolescent melanoma, we were thrilled when Claire’s friends created and launched the Claire Marie Dance Challenge in honor of what would have been her 19th birthday in April!

From Lynchburg College Men’s Lacrosse to Delta Delta Delta sorority at the University of South Carolina onto Johns Hopkins Women’s Lacrosse and much more, there was a whole lot of dancing, shaking and celebrating going on at high schools and college campuses throughout the Mid-Atlantic and the South. In the end, the videos posted on youtube, garnered nearly five thousand views and helped spread awareness of adolescent melanoma to those affected the most! Thanks to all who joined in the campaign. If you feel inspired to join in the cause – the Claire Marie Dance Challenge is still open! Just follow the directions below! Let us see your moves!

#AwarenessSavesLives! #LiveLifeLikeClaire!

See some of the videos here 

The second annual Claire Marie Foundation Scholarship for Arts and Design was recently awarded to Meredith Egan, a 2016 graduating Senior of the Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland. Meredith will be attending Rollins College, in Winter Park, Florida to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater Design as well as Business Administration.

The Claire Marie Foundation Scholarship is awarded annually in the memory of Claire Marie Wagonhurst, an aspiring interior designer and member of the Notre Dame Prep Class of 2015 who passed away of adolescent melanoma at the age of 17. Applicants must be a graduating senior at Notre Dame Prep pursuing an academic and professional career in design arts.

An impressive panel of professional judges determined the winner of the $5,000 scholarship, including Model, Fashion and Life Style Expert Molly Sims, Los Angeles based Interior Designer Stacey Vuduris, Creator and Designer of Danielle Nicole handbags Danielle DiFerdinando,  Fashion Illustrator Inslee Haynes, Lighting and Set Designer, Tim Swiss of Los Angeles and Maryland’s First Lady Mrs. Yumi Hogan who is an accomplished artist and educator at MICA.

The Claire Marie Foundation was established in 2014 following the death of Claire Marie Wagonhurst, a sparkling 17 year old who lost a long battle with adolescent melanoma as a result of changes her body went through during puberty. The Claire Marie Foundation strives to raise awareness, clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent melanoma while celebrating the joy, color and beauty that Claire embraced every day.  The Foundation is led by Marianne Banister and her husband Rocky Wagonhurst, Claire’s parents.