Donor Spotlight: Grizzly bears, African summits, and other joys

By Dean Monti, Managing Editor, Special Publications, May 1, 2024

In this new column, DermWorld highlights individual members who have gone above and beyond with their Academy contributions.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of AAD’s Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!^™. In addition to successfully raising awareness of skin cancer prevention and treatment for a decade, it’s been an extraordinary odyssey for those who know it intimately: the hikers. But no one has more poignant hiking tales than the person who first came up with the idea, Ellen Marmur, MD, FAAD. DermWorld celebrates this milestone anniversary with a conversation with Dr. Marmur.

Dr. Marmur: It was just before my 45th birthday when I had an epiphany of my life’s bucket list. Philanthropy, service, friendships, exploration, and exercise were the parts of my life that brought me the most joy that I’d neglected while focusing on school, career, and family. At that moment, I envisioned starting Skin Cancer, Take a Hike! to raise money to prevent skin cancer all over the world.

DermWorld: What was the first location in 2014 and why was it chosen?

Dr. Marmur: The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro was the perfect challenge and Africa was the most meaningful location. Before the hike, our medical team met with a Mohs surgeon at the skin cancer hospital for persons with albinism whose life expectancy is 21 years due to metastatic squamous cell cancer. We were inspired by the smart women with albinism who showed us how they make sun protection in their laboratory to distribute to the remote villages. Our team carried hundreds of orange ribbons inscribed with names of skin cancer survivors to the summit where we unfurled them in the spirit of strength. After the hike, my daughter started Sasha Suncare, 100% of which proceeds go to Beyond Suncare supporting the hundreds of families in Africa. Our hikes aim to highlight different risks, such as high altitude is a higher environmental risk, and to dispel myths about skin cancer such as people with darker skin are immune to skin cancer.

DermWorld: How have you been personally touched by issues of skin cancer?

Dr. Marmur: I was an outdoor athlete, sun tanner, and used tanning beds before I learned it was injuring my skin. In my 30s, I developed basal cell carcinoma and AIEMP (atypical intraepithelial melanocytic proliferation) considered a close precursor to malignant melanoma. In my 40s, the BCC recurred on my nose requiring a graft that is still quite evident. At first, I hid from the sun to the extreme of limiting my time at fun outdoor adventures with my children. But hiding from the sun wasn’t the ultimate answer. Being smarter about sun exposure, while living life to its fullest felt like the ultimate choice for me. Now my entire family dedicates our vacation to Skin Cancer, Take a Hike. We’ve hiked over Italy, Japan, and next we go to Banff in Canada. It’s been amazing to see us all overcome physical and mental challenges together on these hikes while also learning about the impact of skin cancer on different communities. I think I’ve instilled the philanthropic and humanitarian spirit in my kids which I feel will make them happier in life.

DermWorld: Why is skin cancer detection and prevention so important, and why are dermatologists so important in this battle?

Dr. Marmur: Prevention and early detection are within reach of all dermatologists in every community. Unlike inventing a cure for skin cancers, we already have the best tools to educate and spread the word about healthy habits for skin cancer prevention and detection. Dermatologists have passion, authority, and experience that make our teachings resonate better than anyone. Our impact on skin cancer prevention is possibly even more life-saving than some of the most sophisticated treatments.

DermWorld: Can you give a few examples from the last decade that epitomize what has made the hikes memorable and meaningful to you?

Dr. Marmur: Perseverance in Africa: We were climbing up the frozen silt around 2 a.m. on our summit attempt when one hiker became delirious from altitude sickness. Her guide stayed behind with her and forced us to continue. It was sub-freezing and pitch black. We were inching along feeling like we weighed 1,000 pounds when the laser beam of sunrise cut across the steep horizon at a 60° angle. We paused at Stella Point on the crater rim for a rest and prayed for Linda. Suddenly, there she was! She made it! Her perseverance was so bionic, it brought us to tears! (Skin cancer in Africa is a critical problem for persons with albinism and they need supplies to make SPF.)

Laughter in Patagonia: After our third glorious 11-mile day on Patagonia’s Torres del Paine W Trek, we sat in our dome-like yurt and played a game led by Dr. Kathleen Welsh called “Two Truths and One Lie.” Stunning, delightful, and hilarious stories bonded us for years to come! (During that trip I learned that animals in Patagonia are dying from skin cancer at an increasing rate, possibly due to the loss of the protective ozone layer.)

Grizzlies in Alaska: We had no trail in Alaska, just a yak, a guide from Everest, and miles of boulders to cross while on the watch for grizzlies. Dr. Elizabeth Hale raced across the frigid rivers and up the steep climbs with a huge smile on her face. Our team of 11 women wrote a song to sing to the grizzlies in the event of a charge attack: we’d raise our arms high and sing, “Heyyyyy bear, you don’t want to eat me, (pointing at the person next to us) eat her!” Ridiculous. But we did see a mama grizzly and her two cubs run like panthers across the tundra and up a near vertical mountain where the mother, first to the top, reached down a massive paw pulling up each cub to safety. (We met with Inuit Indians to ask whether they were concerned about sun damage. According to a recent study in JAMA Dermatology, “At present, the non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaskan Native communities endure the second-highest rates of melanoma in the U.S.” (2024;160(2):148-155).)

Healing connections in Japan: Our hike along the enchanting Kumano Kodo trail was inspired by Dr. Kathleen Welsh and Dr. Diane Madfes for its rigorous spiritual journey of purification since the 10th Century in Japanese history. Our team climbed over thousands of complicated root systems amidst impossibly tall cedars, wild cypress, and giant bamboo groves, and through mists of low clouds. We traced the steps of pilgrims who sought health, met with a local Shinto priestess, and walked through the 1,000 Tori Gates symbolizing the transition from the mundane to the sacred. (Our guides had never seen a dermatologist, never heard of skin cancer in Japan, and had only heard of vitiligo. We hiked in May, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to raise awareness for the disparities in skin cancer detection in skin of color with the focus on Asian melanoma patients who, according to a paper in JAAD, have a 27% higher mortality rate.

DermWorld: As chair of the AAD’s Philanthropic Relations Committee, why do you believe it’s important for dermatologists to support philanthropic programs like the hike?

Dr. Marmur: I’ve always loved participating — at camp, in school, and now in our profession. Philanthropy is better when we all participate together. It often sounds like you have to give huge gifts of money; you don’t. I’d love to see every member give just $50! Our first hike on Kilimanjaro raised over $100,000, and that was impactful, but my dream goal is to raise $1 million dollars when we do a hike. I’ve learned that the joy of philanthropy is in the excitement and impact it can make together.

DermWorld: What are your thoughts about dermatologists donating to AAD or getting involved in AAD programs?

Dr. Marmur: I would love to see more dermatologists participate in philanthropy through the American Academy of Dermatology. It can be anything: a grassroots effort or naming the AAD in your DAF (donor advisory fund!). On the highest level, engaging in philanthropic endeavors allows dermatologists to give back to their communities and make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. By leveraging the resources at the AAD, we can amplify their philanthropic efforts and reach a wider audience, thereby maximizing our contribution to important causes.

DermWorld: How have the experiences enhanced your friendships and relationships?

Dr. Marmur: Personally, I find it energizing to forge lasting friendships and invaluable professional connections with new people who share their passion for giving back. These life-changing friendships not only enrich our personal and professional lives but also foster a sense of camaraderie and solidarity within our incredible dermatology community. Ultimately, philanthropy offers dermatologists a fulfilling and meaningful way to make a difference in the world while building valuable relationships and connections that can last a lifetime.

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