The seventh annual Cruise to Benefit Melanoma Research Foundation is Saturday, Aug. 2, 12 to 5 p.m., at Don Mallon Chevrolet-Cadillac, 774 W. Thames Street, Route 32 in Norwich.
The event is held in honor of the late Kathy Domijan, who lost her battle with melanoma in October 2001 at 45. She married John “Jack” Domijan, had one daughter, Barbara, and became step-mother to Jack’s four children, Loreen, Keith, Brian and Beau, who lives in Uncasville.
Beau’s wife, Karen, continues to organize the event, which has grown over the years, involving cruising cars, many from members of the Norwich-based Dream Machine Car Club, which Kathy and Jack belonged to. Kathy served as club treasurer.
This year’s festivities include an extensive display of classic autos, Karen said, as well as live entertainment, activities for families, a DJ playing rock and roll favorites, an auction and basket raffle and free food. There is no admission charge for the cruise, but donations are accepted. Raffles prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon.
In the past six years, the annual cruise has raised upwards of $80,000 for melanoma research. All proceeds go to the Melanoma Research Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, the largest private, national organization devoted to the disease.
Plus, the William Backus Hospital Cancer Mobile Unit will again be on location, providing free skin cancer screenings. No reservations are needed.
“The screenings are really important,” Karen said. “We heard from last year’s event that several people were referred to specialists as a result of the screening for more check-ups and biopsies.”
She estimates that hundreds of people have benefited from the mobile unit screenings at the annual cruise.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the Melanoma Research Foundation. It also is the fastest growing cancers in the United States and worldwide.
The most common cancer in young adults 20-30 years old, it is the primary cause of cancer death in women 25-30 years old and second only to breast cancer in women 30- 35 years old, according to the foundation.
The majority of melanoma is caused by exposure to UV light and sunlight and most melanoma can be cured if detected early. Unlike many other cancers, skin cancer and melanoma are visible on the skin, making it easier to detect in early stages. The foundation recommends people protect their skin from the sun, avoid excessive sun exposure and sun burning and cover up with clothing and hats. It advises wearing sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, with both UVA and UVB protection.
Rain date for the Car Cruise is Sunday, August 3. For more information, contact Karen Domijan at 860-857-9267. For more information about melanoma, see www.melanoma.org
This August 2, 2007 article tells more of Kathy's story:
Cars Cruise to Beat Melanoma Cancer
Car enthusiasts have the chance to get up close and personal with classics, street rods and even a couple of local race cars this Saturday, August 4, at the 6th Annual Cruise to benefit the Melanoma Research Foundation.
The event, held 12 to 5 pm at Don Mallon Chevrolet-Cadillac, 774 W. Thames Street, Route 32 in Norwich, is a mixture of motors, music, food and fun activities for kids of all ages. The dealership clears its lot of new cars to make room for the antiques, collectables, muscle cars, custom jobs and motorcycles. There also will be “funky cars” that belch fire or bounce. The race cars of Foxwoods driver Mickely Smallridge and Mohegan Sun driver Paul Athey will be on display, too.
There is no admission, but donations are accepted. Raffles prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon. All proceeds go to the Melanoma Research Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, the largest private, national organization devoted to the disease.
The event is held in honor of the late Kathy Domijan, who lost her battle with melanoma in October 2001 at 45. Born in 1954 in San Diego, she moved to Connecticut in the late 1970s and met her future husband John “Jack” Domijan. They were married in October 1980 and had one daughter, Barbra, who lives in Norwich. Kathy also became step-mother to Jack’s four children, Loreen, Keith, Brian and Beau, who lives in Uncasville.
Jack and Kathy were active members of the Norwich-based Dream Machine Car Club, where Kathy served as treasurer.
“They were always known for their 55 Chevy,” Beau said. “It was really a nice car.”
Beau’s wife, Karen, said the couple would go to car shows every weekend. Club members often took their cars to benefit events that raised money for many other functions and organizations.
After Kathy lost her battle to melanoma, Jack put his energies into a car cruise to raise funds to find a cure for the disease. Karen, who had known Kathy since 1997, got involved, seeking donations and sponsors, distributing flyers and advertising the event.
“The generosity of our donors, volunteers and attendees has helped us raise more than $65,000 so far,” said Karen.
Equally as important, she said, hundreds of people have received free skin cancer screenings at the event from Dr. Douglas Tanksley, M.D., in the William Backus Hospital Cancer Mobile Unit. No advance reservations are needed, she said.
Kathy Domijan’s cancer was particularly frustrating, Beau said, and shows the need for people to have screening and check-ups and for continued research to find a cure.
In the 1990’s, doctors removed a cancerous mole from his step-mother’s calf. They gave her an okay after some lymph node tests came back negative.
Five years later, when her bronchitis symptoms wouldn’t go away after some antibiotics, chest x-rays showed cancerous spots in her lungs.
“Within 60 days of discovering these spots, she was gone,” he said. “The cancer had spread to every major organ in her body. Melanoma is the fastest forming and most lethal form of cancer.”
Kathy got to see two of her grandchildren, Beau’s and Karen’s children. Aubrey, 9, was 3 when her step-grandmother passed away. She remembers her grandma and understands why the family is raising funds for cancer research, her mother said. Johnny, 7, is beginning to understand. Barbra’s daughter, Isabella Scott, 3, never got to meet her grandmother.
“We do the best we can,” Beau said of the fund raising and awareness campaign. “Kathy was a wonderful lady. Anyone who knew her was touched by her kindness, her beautiful spirit. She was always giving, always kind to children and animals. She was just a great person.”