Rite Aid Kicks Off Summer as Presenting Sponsor of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour
7th Annual Coast-to-Coast Tour Brings Free Skin Cancer Screenings to 53 Rite Aid Pharmacies Nationwide
CAMP HILL, Pa. (May 27, 2014) – For the seventh consecutive year, Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) will proudly serve as the presenting sponsor of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s annual Road to Healthy Skin Tour. Kicking off today, the Tour runs through August and features local dermatologists coming out into the community to provide free, full-body and potentially life-saving skin cancer screenings to the public.
The Tour’s customized 38-foot recreational vehicle (RV) is gearing up to head across the country recruiting local volunteer dermatologists to provide full-body screenings from the comfort and privacy of one of the RV’s two exam rooms. As The Skin Cancer Foundation’s flagship early detection program, the Tour also aims to raise skin cancer awareness and educate about the importance of prevention and early detection.
“Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The Tour strives to save lives by detecting skin cancers early on and aims to educate the public about skin cancer prevention,” said Skin Cancer Foundation President Perry Robins, MD. “We appreciate Rite Aid’s continued partnership, which enables us to bring this life-saving program to many cities across the country for the seventh year in a row.”
Since 2008, the Road to Healthy Skin Tour has detected more than 7,000 suspected cancers and precancers, including more than 300 cases of melanoma. Over its seven years, the Tour has traveled more than 100,000 miles, winding its way across the United States on its mission to provide easy access to 10-minute screenings that can potentially save lives.
“Each year, more than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed across the county, but the good news is, if detected early, it is also one of the most preventable and curable forms of cancer,” said Rite Aid Executive Vice President of Pharmacy Robert I. Thompson, RPh. “Rite Aid is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Road to Healthy Skin Tour and bring this valuable screening to the communities we serve.”
People interested in receiving a screening are advised to arrive early, as the free screenings are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors will also receive educational materials explaining how to perform monthly skin checks at home, proper ways to protect the skin against sun on a daily basis, along with sunscreen samples and other giveaways. Visit riteaid.com/skincare for the complete Tour schedule.
Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2014 annual revenues of $25.5 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.
The Skin Cancer Foundation is the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has recommended following a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use. For more information, visit SkinCancer.org.
SOURCE: Rite Aid