Program has screened more than 3,900, identifying 4,010 suspected cancerous lesions
Media Alert
CONTACT: Lisa Chillura 813-745-1353 Lisa.Chillura@Moffitt.org
Dave Haller 727-825-3485 DHaller@raysbaseball.com
WHO: Tampa Bay Rays and Moffitt Cancer Center
WHAT: Spring Swing® - Moffitt’s Sun Safety Tour is a partnership between Moffitt and the Tampa Bay Rays offering free skin cancer screenings at specified baseball spring training venues in March. The tour kicks off March 4 when the Rays host the Baltimore Orioles at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte. Screeners will look for early signs of skin cancer while promoting sun safety, skin cancer awareness and education. Fans who receive a screening will receive a free Spring Swing T-shirt, sunscreen, and sun safety educational materials and promotional items.
During the previous nine spring training seasons, Spring Swing has screened more than 3,900 people, identifying 4,010 suspected cancerous lesions, including 25 suspected melanomas.
WHEN/WHERE: Screenings will begin approximately two and a half hours before game time.
Date |
Location |
Teams |
Screening Time |
Game Time |
March 4 |
Port Charlotte |
Orioles vs. Rays |
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
1:05 p.m. |
March 11 |
Fort Myers |
Red Sox vs. Twins |
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
1:05 p.m. |
March 26 |
Tampa |
Rays vs. Yankees |
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
1:05 p.m. |
For more information, visit Moffitt.org/SpringSwing.
Click the link for b-roll from last year’s event.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 47 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the No. 6 cancer hospital in the nation and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Hospitals” for cancer care since 1999. Moffitt devotes more than 2.5 million square feet to research and patient care. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 5,200 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.1 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
About the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays mission is to energize the community through the magic of Rays baseball. The organization is committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interactions and charitable donations, and has proudly represented Major League Baseball since 1998.