It’s the 15th anniversary of our melanoma awareness video, Dear 16-Year-Old Me.
Its impact has been extraordinary:
- Ranked the 7th most shared ad globally in 2011
- 10.6 million views on YouTube, reaching audiences in more than 215 countries
- An award-winning campaign with a life-saving message
Fifteen years later, the melanoma landscape has changed. Research and treatment have improved dramatically, and awareness and prevention efforts have increased. However, melanoma cases continue to rise, taking a heavy toll. Since 2011, more than 120,000 new cases have been diagnosed and over 17,000 lives have been lost to melanoma in Canada.
Fortunately, most melanoma cases are preventable through proper sun protection. When detected early, treatment is highly effective.
Dear 16-Year-Old Me has been credited with saving lives. Together, we can save more:
1. Share Dear 16-Year-Old Me
2. Protect your skin from UV exposure: 🌳⛱👒🧥👖🕶🧴
3. Check your skin regularly and report any changes to your doctor: https://dcmf.ca/tools/
Today we remember our beautiful friend Meredith, who passed away on this day in 2014 at just 26 years old.
Meredith was diagnosed at 22 with ocular (uveal) melanoma, often called OM. It behaves very differently from skin melanoma and can be incredibly aggressive. Meredith faced her diagnosis with extraordinary courage and became a passionate advocate for ocular melanoma and melanoma awareness.
We first met Meredith in 2011 when she generously traveled to Toronto to participate in our Dear 16 Year Old Me video. From the moment we met her, we were struck by her inner strength, kindness, and a magnetic smile that could light up any room. To know Meredith was to love her, and we feel profoundly privileged to have had her in our lives.
Her passing left an immeasurable void. We know her devoted family and friends continue to miss her deeply, and our hearts are always with them. We also feel a deep sadness for those who never had the chance to meet this remarkable young woman whose spirit and impact continue to shine.
In Meredith’s memory, we ask you to honour her legacy by taking care of your health. Please make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam — including dilation. Early detection matters.
We love you, Meredith. We remember you today and always.
Today is #BobMarleyDay, a day to honour Bob Marley’s iconic music and his enduring legacy of peace, love, and unity around the world.
Bob Marley died from #melanoma at the age of 36. He had acral lentiginous melanoma, a rare form of melanoma that develops on the palms, soles of the feet, or under the nails, and is the most common type of melanoma in people of colour.
If detected early, acral lentiginous melanoma is treatable. Please #CheckYourSkin regularly and report any changes to your doctor. Use our skin check tools: http://dcmf.ca/melanoma
Photo: Kate Simon
Globally, melanoma is one of the fastest-rising cancers. It's also largely preventable.
This #WorldCancerDay, prevent #melanoma.
Please protect and check your skin. 🌳⛱👒🧥👖🕶🧴✔
We are delighted to announce that Matt Chapman has been named the recipient of the 2025 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Recognition Award. Established in 2019, this annual award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence and leadership in melanoma prevention, awareness, and support.
For more than a decade, Matt has been a dedicated volunteer and steadfast supporter of the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund. In 2025, he further deepened his involvement as a committee member and lead fundraiser for the Fund’s inaugural Private Capital Fights Melanoma event.
Held on September 25 and presented by Deloitte, Private Capital Fights Melanoma brought together leaders from the private capital community to advance melanoma prevention, awareness and research. Olympic Gold Medallist Tessa Virtue inspired attendees with reflections on resilience, performing under pressure, and the power of purpose. Together, 20 companies raised over $135,000 to combat melanoma in Canada – a milestone result for the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund.
As a Partner at TorQuest Partners and a Canadian private equity leader, Matt’s perseverance, credibility, and enthusiasm were instrumental in turning Private Capital Fights Melanoma into a successful inaugural event with enduring impact.
Through his dedication, Matt exemplifies the spirit of the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Recognition Award, and we are proud to honour his contributions in 2025.
We are delighted to announce that Aliyah King has been named a recipient of the 2025 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Recognition Award. Established in 2019, this annual award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence and leadership in melanoma prevention, awareness, and support.
As a medical student at the University of Ottawa, @aliyahk._ has distinguished herself as a passionate advocate for skin cancer prevention. After working on skin cancer prevention and early detection initiatives during a placement in her first year of medical school, Aliyah was inspired to expand awareness of the importance of sun safety.
In June 2023, Aliyah partnered with Dr. Reetesh Bose, a dermatologist at The Ottawa Hospital and founder of The Skin of Colour Dermatology Clinic, to launch the first Canadian chapter of UV&Me - @uvandme.ottawa . This initiative delivers bilingual, dermatologist-approved presentations in elementary and secondary schools, educating youth about sun safety and skin cancer prevention.
What began as a local Ottawa initiative has since grown into a national movement, now active in 12 of Canada’s 17 medical schools. Nearly 100 medical students and a dozen physicians are involved, reaching more than 1,500 youth in the Ottawa area and more than 3,000 nationally.
“Initiating and leading UV&Me Canada, alongside Dr. Reetesh Bose, began with the understanding that prevention starts with education. Teaching children that ultraviolet exposure is a modifiable risk factor empowers them to form informed, lifelong habits. I am grateful that our Ottawa-rooted initiative has grown into a Canada-wide collaboration, bringing sun safety into everyday conversations.”
We commend Aliyah for her impressive leadership and unwavering dedication to advancing melanoma prevention and education. Congratulations Aliyah!
As we welcome 2026, we’re filled with hope, energy, and gratitude. We’re ready to take action to save lives from #melanoma. Happy New Year from the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund!
Happy Holidays from all of us at the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to #melanoma prevention, awareness and research. Wishing you a healthy, happy holiday season.
Twenty years ago, on December 18, 2005, David Cornfield passed away from melanoma. David was just 32. He was a devoted husband, a proud new father and a loving son, brother and friend. He was a bright light, a special talent and a force of nature. His life was full of love, laughter, curiosity and promise.
It’s hard to believe 20 years have passed since we lost David. His death was a tragic loss to his family, friends and to the future he deserved. Today we remember not only the pain of his loss, but also the beauty of his life. A life so full that it continues to inspire change.
It was David’s wish that the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund (DCMF) be created. He believed it was his duty to raise awareness of melanoma, so that no other family loses a loved one to this largely preventable disease. Since 2007, DCMF has focused on prevention, awareness and research to save lives. Today, we are humbled to be recognized as a Canadian leader and a global voice in melanoma prevention and awareness.
As we mark 20 years since David’s passing, we are filled with gratitude for David’s life, for the love he shared and for every supporter who has helped turn loss into lifesaving impact. We invite you to help carry David’s impact forward – please donate at dcmf.ca.
Mostly, today we are thinking of David. We remember and celebrate his optimism, vigour and love for life.
“It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it slip away” was David’s favourite song lyric. David, for you, we will not let any day slip away.
The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund is delighted to announce Dr. Haydee Williams Sanchez as the recipient of the 2025 David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award.
Dr. Williams Sanchez is a Medical Oncologist and a Clinical Research Fellow in Medical Oncology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. She is passionate about advancing treatment strategies that meaningfully improve patient outcomes.
We are proud to support Dr. Williams Sanchez’s research on Acral Lentiginous Melanoma (ALM), an aggressive melanoma subtype that disproportionately affects Hispanic, African, and Asian populations yet remains poorly represented in existing data and clinical studies. By analyzing real-world clinical and molecular information from a diverse patient cohort, this project examines how clinical characteristics and molecular profiles differ across ethnicities and evaluates how these differences influence prognosis. Dr. Williams Sanchez’s goal is to generate evidence that will inform more inclusive, effective therapies tailored to the unique biology of ALM.
“Thank you for your generous support and for creating this meaningful award that plays an essential role in supporting the training and development of clinician-scientists who are committed to improving the lives of patients with cancer. I am truly grateful for this recognition and inspired to continue working toward that mission.” – Dr. Haydee Williams Sanchez
The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund Research Award was established in 2015 at the University of Toronto in David Cornfield’s memory. Jointly funded by the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund and the University of Toronto, this $100,000 endowed award supports excellence in melanoma research. The award is available to residents and fellows in the Department of Medicine who have demonstrated a special interest and research achievements in the field of melanoma.
It’s #ThankYouThursday, and we want to thank you, our generous donors!
Thanks to you, this Giving Tuesday, we raised $13,000! We are so grateful for your incredible support.
A very special thank-you to KPMG in Canada, a long-time DCMF supporter and our 2025 Giving Tuesday Matching GIft Partner, for their immense generosity.
Thank you for stepping up to help save lives from melanoma.
#GivingTuesdayCA #melanoma #skincancer
Giving Tuesday is underway and there’s still time to double your impact!
Every gift made before midnight will be matched dollar-for-dollar by KPMG in Canada, up to a total of $10,000, supporting melanoma prevention, awareness, and research — critical work that helps save lives.
Your generosity today protects tomorrow.
👉 Make your matched gift now: dcmf.ca
#GivingTuesday #melanoma #skincancer
