My name is Derek Givens and I am a Cancer Survivor of Malignant Melanoma. In 1998, I was diagnosed with an extremely poor prognosis two years after I got married. With my whole life ahead of me, I had no idea where to turn. I was scared, but I knew I wanted to fight this disease. I eventually found the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica. Dr. Morton was just starting a cutting edge therapy for people like me and developed taking actual melanoma cells and splicing them and injecting them back into cancer to fight it. After pretty invasive surgery, I have been over ten years clean. The foundation was strong then, and stronger now constantly searching for better ways to combat this horrendous killer. I am so happy and grateful for what the foundation has done not only for me but for others who are searching for help. I am now cancer-free, still married to the love of my life with two amazing children. I take the “Block The Blaze” cause very seriously and do my best to spread awareness of how dangerous the sun can be. Wear Sunscreen, and reapply. Be active, Be healthy, and spread the word.

Thank You,
Derek Givens

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s.Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s. Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

We’re pleased to announce that as of this fall, the Block the Blaze program has reached over 500,000 young people! Despite the challenges this year has brought on due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been able to continue sun safety education through webinars, collaborative lesson planning with schools, and presentations on the beach throughout the past summer!

Block the Blaze is a John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) funded youth skin cancer education program. Block the Blaze knows it unrealistic to ask youth to avoid the sun, in fact, Block the Blaze encourages youth to be outdoors, active and healthy, we just teach them how to do so safely!

Skin cancer is the most common cancer with 1 in 5 Americans being diagnosed in their lifetime. Having just one blistering sunburn in adolescent years doubles the risk of developing melanoma. We educate youth on the importance of sun safety through the 5 sun-safe tips and self-screening with the ABCDEs of melanoma. Block the Blaze would like to extend our sincere appreciation for program participants and partners, including the California Surf Lifesaving Association, the United States Lifesaving Association, TropicSport, teachers, staff and interns.

With grit and gratitude,
Ethan Wayne
Chairman, John Wayne Cancer Foundation

Devon Rae Fought Cancer with Grit and Won! Here’s her story.

“I am a brain cancer survivor who has been fighting along-side John Wayne Cancer Foundation doctors for almost three years now. In 2017, I had brain surgery to take out a tumor about the size of a lime. I had a 100% resection, but I lost mobility on the entire left side of my body. It took me about two weeks to learn how to walk again and I will never take my body for granted ever again. Because of a clinical trial, I am healthy now, so now I’m taking this opportunity to encourage everyone to fight back against cancer. And that’s where all of you trail runners can play a part, by running for those who can’t. I want to thank everyone who participates in the John Wayne Grit Series trail runs. Thank you for funding the urgently needed cancer research that saves lives like mine. Let’s cure cancer together!”