Jefferson City non-profit helps prevent skin cancer with public sunscreen dispensers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Miles Against Melanoma is trying to help prevent skin cancer in the Jefferson City area with over 65 free sunscreen dispensers.

MAMJC says that with the funds from its 2023 Glow Run, it bought $17,000 worth of sunscreen and dispensers. MAMJC announced in a social media post that the dispensers were being installed in April.

MAMJC says the sunscreen in the dispensers is good for over 200,000 applications of sunscreen. The sunscreen in the dispenser is SPF 30, PABA-free, nut and allergen-friendly, and even good for sensitive skin.

Amanda Peters, president of MAMJC, said they first introduced the dispensers to the community in 2020.

"Every year we have increased them the last four years from obviously, 0 to 70. Last year we had 35," Peters said.

Peters explained that skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer.

"The way that you prevent it is by using sunscreen, avoiding the peak hours of the sun, long sleeves, hats, shades, things like that. So we felt like sunscreen was something that we could provide to our community to help reduce their risks," Peters said.

Ashley Wiskirchen, a spokesperson for Jefferson City Parks and Recreation, said they have 14 of the sunscreen dispensers dispersed across their parks and pools.

"We love this partnership because Miles Against Melanoma distributes the sunscreen dispensers and fills the sunscreen, and they have little QR codes on each dispenser to refill If they're running low or they run out," Wiskirchen said.

Wiskirchen said since the dispensers have been introduced around the community the feedback has been positive.

"They get used pretty frequently. I was talking to our director of camps today and she said she's had no sunburn incidents for campers this year. So we have one at every camp location and I think that speaks very highly of the placement," Wiskirchen said.

Peters says MAMJC will hold its next skin-safe Glow Run on Sept. 21 to raise money for melanoma research and more sunscreen dispensers for summer 2025.

Wiskirchen says she is hopeful the non-profit will continue to grow its outreach in the community.

"I expect to see more sunblock dispensers and maybe even improvements on the quality and sunblock over time if we need them," Wiskirchen said. "It's a great example of a community organization group coming to parks with a solution to a need that they know existed and we're super happy to implement it."