Major League Baseball is practicing Safe Sun!

Major League Baseball is practicing Safe Sun!

Major League Baseball has several foundations set up under their Major League Baseball community players and teams in the league.  They have selected these organizations to sponsor and loan the name and time to some great causes.  The variety of organizations focus’ on veterans (Welcome Back Veteran’s), giving children who live in poverty the chance to both play and attend their home teams baseball games as well as get active in the sport itself.  Some of these Major League Baseball organizations are (Baseball Assistance Team, Baseball Tomorrow Fund, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Breaking Barriers, and RBI).  Other important issues the Major League Baseball has formed stand up to cancer, 4ALS, Major League Baseball Greening Program, and the Commissioners Community Initiative.  One of the programs that have recently stood out to me is the Play Sun Smart

.  Hall of Famer Johnny Bench was recently named the spokesperson of the organization having his own experience with skin cancer.  This is an organization that is working to bring awareness to the issue of skin health and the affects of the sun can have on your skin.  This is an issue that directly impacts people everywhere and of every skin color. No one is discriminated against it when it comes to the sun.  The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) partnered with the Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association to create this organization.  Together they are encouraging and educating baseball fans to be more sun conscience, conduct skin exams, and to be safe when coming into contact with the sun.  this organization started on June 21, 2005.  Derek Lowe of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the first athlete on board and to be the first spokesperson as well.  He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.  Since then, several over baseball players joined over the years.  All who have either themselves been diagnosed with a type of skin cancer or a close loved one.  They have all been touched by skin cancer and have used this organization to voice their experiences.  They all do this in hopes that sharing their stories will inspire others to practice safe sun.