Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation presents "Putt For Prevention" fundraiser on Sat., March 19

With Spring right around the corner, local families are invited to gather at South Shore Skin Center in Norwell on Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to “Putt For Prevention.” The day of indoor mini-golf, open to all ages, will benefit the ongoing work of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation and its SunAWARE Education Program.

South Shore Skin Center is located at 75 Washington Street on Route 53 in Norwell. Admission is $5.00 per player or $20 per family. Children under 10 years of age must be accompanied by a parent. There is no charge for children under 3.

Preparing with a few practice shots are Hingham residents (above, left to right): CMPF Founder & Executive Director, Maryellen Maguire-Eisen; participant Molly Schwall; CMPF Junior Board Member, Rachel Ader; and CMPF Board Member, Sara Ader.

The event will feature 18 holes of mini-golf spread over two floors of the sprawling Skin Center building. Players will be tested by a variety of fun fairway obstacles ranging from lively down-the-stairs complications to creative loop-the-loop challenges.

Volunteer greens men will include staffers from South Shore Skin Center and members of the Hingham High School Golf Team.

Participants will also be invited to enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities including face painting, a magic show, craft workshops, refreshments and more. A raffle will offer prizes ranging from golf supplies and restaurant gift cards to sun-protective clothing and designer sunglasses among other items.Individual mini-golf holes are being sponsored by local businesses and organizations including: Eastern Bank; Hingham Institution for Savings, Sacred Heart School in Kingston; Scappini & Pina, P.C.; Skinceuticals; South Shore Skin Center; Thomas E. Sears, Inc.; and We Print Today. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation is a non-profit, educational foundation established in 2003 to deliver a comprehensive, kid-friendly, sun safety and melanoma awareness program, free of charge, to children and their caregivers. The organization’s motto is “preventing skin cancer, one child at a time.” Each year, more than 50,000 students from kindergarten to grade twelve actively participate in presentations and projects provided by trained Foundation staff members at local schools, sailing clubs, day care centers and health clubs.

Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, Executive Director of the Foundation, commented, “’Putt For Prevention’ is a wonderful way for the entire family to enjoy a Saturday together while raising funds and awareness to prevent skin cancer in our community.”

She added, “We educate children about sun protection and skin cancer prevention because we believe an ounce of prevention (sunscreen) is truly worth a pound of cure. With skin cancer rates skyrocketing and one person dying every 45 minutes from the disease, it is imperative that we protect our children from unnecessary risks. Early prevention is essential for a happy, healthy and productive life.”

For more information, contact the Foundation at 781-875-1773 or visit www.melanomaprevention.org.

Photo: Scott Eisen

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