The Dark Side of the Sun: Mollie Biggane's Story

Mollie Biggane was a beautiful, fun loving college student who noticed a tiny mole on the back of her leg that would bleed when she scratched it.

Six months later, in spite of chemo and radiation, the Garden City resident was dead at the age of 20 from melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer that is on the rise in this country, especially in young people. Melanoma is 95 percent curable if caught early but if it is missed is fatal.

Devastated by the death of their daughter, Maggie and Jack Biggane made it their mission to educate the public to prevent this disease from claiming any more victims. Since they started the Mollie Biggane Melanoma Foundation 10 years ago they have brought their message of skin cancer prevention not only nationally but internationally and even received a congratulatory letter from the White House a few years ago.

When the foundation first began they originally set up the fund to donate money for research. Soon they realized they could have a greater impact by educating people at a young age. Five years ago they created a DVD called “The Dark Side of the Sun” which tells Mollie’s story but it also has a teaching lesson which accompanies it for health educators and nurses.

“Our target audience was middle school and high school students to teach them the dangers of the sun and mole identification," said Maggie Biggane. Hundreds of thousands of these DVDs were mailed free of charge to schools around the country. “We penetrated each state,” said Jack, "and we really reached out and tried to get the message to everybody in the country through the educational DVD and the lesson plan.”

Both Maggie and Jack left their jobs to make this their full time mission; Maggie was a teacher for the deaf and Jack was in technology.

May is melanoma awareness month and the Bigganes have brought their message to the radio waves with WINS to run Memorial Day during the traffic report with a PSA announcement on melanoma awareness.

“When you are on your way to the Jersey Shore or the Hamptons between 2 and 7 there will be a blurb about the importance of using sun screen,” said Maggie. Their message is currently also running in cabs in NYC, and on the trains and subways.

Along with their mailings and educational materials they also participate in many events and have become part of the melanoma community. They have set up symposiums inviting the top melanoma doctors from around the area to discuss the disease and be available for questions. The Bigganes have become a vital source of information, fielding many calls from people who have melanoma, and referring them to doctors who can help them.

The Bigganes took a tragedy and turned it around to save many lives around the country and frequently hear from people they have saved through their message. Mollie would have been very proud of her parents.