The David Cornfield Melanoma Fund recently tapped the starpower of ski cross Olympians Julia Murray and Davey Barr during an experiential event aimed at raising awareness of the disease and money for the fund.
The event, conceived by Toronto-based agency Three Times Three, saw the fund take to the slopes at the Blue Mountain resort in Ontario Jan. 26 and 27. Targeting youth up to 18 and their parents, the event offered skiers an opportunity to take skiing lessons from Murray and Barr. Additionally, the slopes were coloured with black polka dots, representing the cancerous moles caused by melanoma, which skiers “erased” by skiing over them.
Wade Makarus, partner, Three Times Three, tells MiC that promoting the fund during a winter-themed event was a good opportunity to reach people at a time when they don’t typically think about the risks of sun exposure or getting melanoma.
He adds that the campaign, which is the first branding effort by the fund, will also make use of a 15-second TV PSA, which will be rolling out within the next few weeks, and will be further promoted online and through social media.
Makarus says that the black polka dots that covered the slopes are meant to be a branding device for the fund, which it can leverage at future events at other ski resorts going forward.
Photo: Ski cross Olympians Julia Murray and Davey Barr
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GREAT Campaign!!!!! We all need to be aware of melanoma and the ski slope is definitely one place that sunscreen is not on your mind. I am a Melanoma patient. I Just saw this new style of Melanoma awareness ribbon recently with polka dots! Thought it was a perfect alternative companion for your campaign. I find the black ribbon kinda depressing, but this is classy and makes the spot on your skin statement too. Just thought I would share that in case you could use it.
P Bush stage 2 A melanoma patient, round 3.