It’s May and that means it’s Melanoma Awareness month. To kick off this incredibly important month in our calendar, we started the month by announcing our partnership with UV Skinz.
As a follow up to that exciting announcement, we recently had the opportunity to speak with the Founder of UV Skinz, Rhonda Sparks, and one of her three sons who work in the business, Seth Farwell. We wanted to share their story, the story of how this business came about, and the significant opportunity we at IMPACT Melanoma see in partnering together to raise awareness, encourage being sun safe, and prevent skin cancer, including making melanoma a thing of the past.
To better understand UV Skinz and what drives them, it is best to know more about the family’s story.
It’s Personal.
In 1996, Darren, Rhonda’s husband, went to the dermatologist to have a mole on his upper back checked out as it had changed in size and color. The doctor confirmed it was skin cancer and specifically, melanoma. Rhonda had a common reaction to the news, “It’s just skin cancer. They’ll cut it out and you’ll be fine.”
Two years later, the melanoma reappeared and was confirmed to be throughout his lymphatic system. Despite battling for five years, Darren passed away from melanoma at age 32.
Rhonda was left to raise their three young boys, ages six, three and one.
The Formation of UV Skinz
The business began organically. As a mom, Rhonda was focused on the importance of covering kids with protective clothing to form important habits as a child. She knew that most buyers would be women and that by appealing to them to protect their children from the sun’s harmful UV rays, they would be more likely to serve as important role models and wear sun protective clothing themselves. Protecting the family has been a goal from the outset of the business back in 2006. Today, UV Skinz is proud to offer UPF 50+ clothing and swimwear for everyone – from babies 0 to 3 months to adult sizes 4XL – so the entire family can stay protected while being outside.
Offering high-quality, affordable, UPF 50+ protective clothing for the entire family is important to Rhonda who embraces the title of Team Captain of UV Skinz. Their mission is to enable everyone to get outdoors, live, and safely have fun under the sun.
Memories of Growing the Business
Like any successful entrepreneur, Rhonda worked hard to launch and build UV Skinz into the business it is today. Seth, who was nine years old when UV Skinz was founded, fondly recalls being at events and trade shows where a folding table and plastic tablecloth would display UV Skinz apparel. He remembers taking naps under the table and doing his homework while his mom built awareness and made sales. Seth is owed the credit for the logo concept that he drew as a young boy.
Seth shared the fun of product naming in the early years where product names would include the boy’s friends. He vividly recalled memories of fun in the sun with the three Farwell boys and their friends wearing UV Skinz products suited to their styles and color preferences.
A Family Business
Today, each of Rhonda’s sons, Ethan, Caleb, and Seth, work in the business. That too has happened organically; she wanted them to blaze their own trails, and follow their interests. Each of them did that and yet, over time, all three have gravitated back into professional roles at UV Skinz. While working in the business initially started while in high school to make some extra money and support the family business, their paths led them back to roles that suited their skills and interests.
Seth describes how rewarding it is to be part of a family business where the mission is deeply personal. He leads brand development while Ethan is the product photographer, and Caleb is leading the efforts to grow their wholesale channel.
Rhonda remarks on how rewarding it is to have her three sons actively involved in UV Skinz. As the founder and their mother, she is grateful and incredibly proud of each of them embracing the mission with a lot of heart.
The Opportunities Abound
The word partnership can sometimes be used too casually in describing a working relationship. When speaking about the partnership between IMPACT Melanoma and UV Skinz, there is a palpable excitement for the opportunities that this relationship can achieve.
Both organizations agree on the importance of creating healthy sun safe habits at an early age and that logically sets up tremendous alignment with IMPACT Melanoma’s No Sun for Babies program and UV Skinz offering UPF 50+ protective clothing for the entire family.
In May, UV Skinz offers a free infant t-shirt with any purchase. This year, a customer can opt to have that infant t-shirt donated and these t-shirts will be distributed via IMPACT Melanoma to reach infants across the country. Make a purchase today and help us distribute thousands of infant protective t-shirts to young families!
As we brainstormed about what may follow this initial joint effort, we agreed that reaching inner city youth and underprivileged kids could be a great opportunity. Imagine long sleeve sun protective shirts at summer camps or for kids playing on hot basketball courts or soccer fields during the heat of summer!
Another target audience both IMPACT Melanoma and UV Skinz want to reach is outdoor workers. These workers have a risk of developing skin cancer including melanoma that is eight times higher than individuals who do not work outside. These workers include parks and recreation, department of public works, and police and fire employees. Seth shares that UV Skinz has a new performance fabric that seems to be ideal for this audience. IMPACT Melanoma has seen great interest working with organizations, including construction companies and municipal departments, to offer protective clothing as part of their benefits to protect their employees.
IMPACT Melanoma is proud to refer to UV Skinz as a partner and looks ahead with great optimism that together, we can continue to expand awareness of the importance of wearing sunscreen and wearing protective clothing as two powerful combinations in reducing the risk of skin cancer.
Rhonda lost her husband and the father of her three boys, far too young. Our missions unite us in growing awareness, adopting sun safe habits, and reducing the incidence of skin cancer and saving lives.
Stay tuned as this is just the beginning of an IMPACTful partnership.
Learn more about UV Skinz and their story.
Visit UV Skinz to buy high quality, affordable UPF 50+ clothing.
