'Scoops for Melanoma' a successful fundraiser

Date: 8/16/2010

Aug. 16, 2010

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW -- JB's Ice Cream's recent Scoops for Melanoma fundraiser to benefit the Melanoma Education Foundation was such a success, owner Jeff Brown and his friend and fellow melanoma survivor, Springfield Police Officer Michael Carney, are already planning a repeat for next summer.

"We were busy from the time we opened until we closed," Brown said of the event, which took place July 31 and Aug. 1. "We raised more the $4,000 through the raffle, donations and my contribution [through store sales during the event] and next year, we're expecting it to be even bigger," Brown said.

Nearly everyone who visited that weekend, he said, shared a story of how melanoma had affected their lives as they bought ice cream or a raffle ticket.

"[They] had a story about themselves or another relative," Brown said. "One lady told us about her husband. The doctors gave him five years to live. He survived for 41."

In addition to the support from the public and the visits from Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and State Rep. Brian Ashe, Brown said he wanted to thank several local businesses that came forward to help put on the event.

"PeoplesBank and People's United Bank donated for the clown, and Elmcrest Country Club donated two foursomes for the raffle," he said.

Proceeds from this year's fundraiser will help the foundation provide education on melanoma and the dangers of sun exposure to middle and high school students through health education classes. Brown has requested that the Scoops donation fund education classes at East Longmeadow High School.