Bruce Springsteen Promotes Melanoma Awareness Efforts

Danny Federici, organ and accordion player for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band who played alongside ‘The Boss’ for more than 40 years, lost his battle with melanoma in April 2008. After the untimely death, Springsteen, his band mates and Danny’s family and friends created a memorial fund dedicated to raising money and awareness of melanoma prevention.

The Danny Fund is dedicated to research and treatment development for melanoma and to help fund clinical trials at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where Danny received treatment.

Springsteen has called Danny “one of the pillars of our sound” and in addition to donating proceeds from special albums released to benefit the memorial fund, the rock star, along with The Danny Fund and the Melanoma Research Alliance, have created a campaign to win the Pepsi Refresh Project.

They need your vote to be awarded $250,000 by Pepsi to help fund great ideas and efforts.  In this case, “Save Lives From Deadly Skin Cancer” will help fund research for better treatments for melanoma, encourage new scientists to engage in the research, and to raise general awareness about the prevention of this deadly disease.

Danny’s Advice

What people take for granted on a daily basis, among so many other things, is their skin. I spent my life, like many others, catching some rays, surfing, hanging out in the sun and it never bothered me until now. Who knew that something as simple as a proper sunscreen or keeping yourself covered up on a sunny day could one day save your life? Our culture looks at a nice tan as a sign of luxury. We spend time in tanning booths when we can’t go to the beach or lay by the pool. It’s time to think again. Especially if you’re fair-skinned, have freckles, or light eyes. Be aware of the dangers, take precaution, and have yourself checked out regularly by a dermatologist from head to toe. It could absolutely make the difference in your life.”

– Danny Federici