The cure for melanoma begins with me.

We walk in honor of my father, Joseph James Suerth. Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) is the largest independent organization dedicated to melanoma. Your donation will help fund research grants at medical institutions across the United States, provide support services for newly diagnosed patients and their families and educate the public about skin cancer prevention and early detection.

My father was diagnosed with Melanoma on his spine on May 14th, 2025. He woke up one day unable to walk or move his legs. After surgery to remove some of the tumor and alleviate pressure, he began radiation treatments. Despite initial hopes that the tumor's swelling was a sign of the cancer cells dying, the doctors believed the cancer had grown. He bravely pushed through for weeks, learning to use a slide board and attending radiation treatments twice a day. Tragically, just 6 short weeks later, on June 25th, 2025, he passed away at the age of 61. He leaves behind a daughter and three grandchildren. Throughout his life, he faced numerous health challenges, including Polycystic Kidney Disease, Neuropathy, and fungal meningitis with aspergillus, before his battle with Melanoma. He truly loved life and wanted nothing more than to live and enjoy each day. Melanoma is an incredibly aggressive cancer, and I am still trying to comprehend how quickly this all unfolded.

I am raising funds to help improve the lives of those affected by melanoma, and I would greatly appreciate your support in bringing this vision to life. There are currently over 1,000,000 Americans living with melanoma. This year, another 160,000 will be diagnosed and more than 10,000 will lose their battle with the disease. I am committed to changing those statistics. Help me transform one of the most deadliest cancers into one of the most treatable.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make a difference.

You can learn more about Joseph by clicking here to see his obituary