Each year in October, Carlsbad resident Suzette Ridpath rallies a group of family and friends — Team Ridpath — to come to the University of California, San Diego in support of research and prevention of melanoma. This year, she will continue the tradition, along with hundreds of other walkers, at the 16th annual Bruce Gorder UCSD 5K Walk for Melanoma on Oct. 17.  The event benefits research at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center to find effective methods of treatment, prevention and ultimately, a cure. To date, participants and sponsors of the 5K have raised more than $1 million for melanoma research.

Ridpath participates in the Gorder 5K Walk each year because her family — as many others have — has been affected by cancer. Her mother passed away from ovarian cancer and her uncle died from melanoma. Ridpath has had nearly 15 melanomas — the most dangerous form of skin cancer — removed. Fortunately, each has been detected early.

"By walking the 5K and encouraging others to do so, I feel like I am doing something positive to fight cancer," said Ridpath. "It is so important that I am here for my children and my family. Taking care of your skin is so important — I need to impart this to my kids."

The annual 5K honors Bruce Gorder, who lost his battle against malignant melanoma at only 37 years of age in 1992. Shortly after Bruce’s death, his father, Charles Gorder, helped organize a 5K walk to support melanoma research and build awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection of the disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 68,720 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States during 2009, while 8,650 Americans are expected to die from melanoma this year.

"Private support is critical to help us continue our research efforts focused on the effective treatment and prevention of melanoma," said Gregory Daniels, M.D., Ph.D., head of the clinical melanoma research program at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center.

Walkers of all ages and fitness levels are invited to join in the scenic, family-oriented 5K through the UC San Diego campus to benefit such melanoma research.  Channel 10News anchor Bill Griffith will emcee the event for the fourth year in a row.

The event begins at 8 a.m. and features a free event T-shirt and prize drawing entry to all registered attendees, giveaways and professional skin cancer screenings by community dermatologists. The registration fee is $30. To register or give online, visit www.cancer.ucsd.edu/, call (858) 822-1328 or e-mail jennilyn@ucsd.edu.