In recognition of May being Melanoma Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, the Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE) is providing 190 free dispensers at 54 locations – including Cranston High School East.

“We are thrilled to expand on our highly successful pilot program in Boston and offer sunscreen units for public and private distribution throughout the country,” said Deb Girard, MFNE’s executive director.

The dispensers are tied directly to the MFNE program called “Practice Safe Skin,” which promotes using sunscreen as an effective protective measure to avoid sun overexposure.

Chris D’Ambrosio, vice principal at East has a very close and personal connection to the issue.

“My daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with melanoma in situ when she was 11 years old. She is going to turn 20 next month, and is in perfect health, due to early detection and working with the MFNE. Rachel actually is a speaker for the foundation,” he said.

D’Ambrosio wants to teach students to know what constitutes a “sun-safe lifestyle.” He actually requested a dispenser for every school in the district, but was awarded two.

“I kept the one here for East and gave the other to Park View,” he said.

The dispenser at East was installed May 16, and is placed by the gymnasium doors for students to take an application before heading out for physical education. The sunscreen has an SPF of 30, which is safe for everyone from six months and up, and it is made of all-natural ingredients. Each machine costs around $400 and was equipped with four bags of suncreen. Each bag has 670 applications’ worth.

East has participated in several programs and in-services with the MFNE.

“We have a facial scanner that we use at these workshops and in our health classes,” D’Ambrosio said. “It is not a cancer diagnosis machine, but it shows the damage to the skin from the sun. Students who have used the scanner take the ‘skin is in’ pledge to start using appropriate sunscreen and safe sun precautions.”

For more information, visit mfne.org.