It’s sad, but it’s true.

Most runners, cyclists and other athletes who work out in the hot Mississippi sun rarely use the proper protection against skin cancer. Most of us don’t think twice about heading out the door without a shirt — and without sunscreen.

But melanoma is one of the leading causes of skin cancer among men and women, which is a shame because of how easy it is to prevent.

Just ask Keith Warren and Marshall Ramsay, friends of mine here at The Clarion-Ledger. Marshall has had three spots of melanoma removed from his body without harm. Keith’s father wasn’t so lucky. Leonard Warren died seven years ago.

“He was old-fashioned and he didn’t ever want to go to the doctor,” Warren recalled. “When he finally did go for something else entirely, they found the melanoma, but it was already too far along.”

In researching the disease, Warren discovered that new treatments for melanoma are constantly being researched. “We found out doctors are always coming up with new ways to treat it and we decided we wanted to help them,” he said.

That’s why proceeds from the first Leonard Warren Memorial 5K Run from the Sun will go to benefit skin cancer research. The Jackson race earns its unusual name as both a reminder of the sun’s harmful rays and because of its unusual start time: 5 p.m. Saturday, May 22. May is national melanoma awareness month.

“We decided to do it in the evening to emphasize our mission to make people aware of the dangers of sun cancer,” Warren said. “It’s surprising that very few people really know much about it.”

For example, skin cancer can be hereditary and even if you don’t stay unprotected in the sun for prolonged periods of time, you should still schedule visits with a doctor to have your skin looked at.

“You need to check your family history because that can have as much of a role in sun cancer as how much time you spend out in the sun,” he said.

The idea of hosting a race around raising awareness of melanoma came when Warren and Ramsey were discussing the disease.

“Frankly, I’m very lucky to be alive,” said Ramsey who had three different melanoma moles removed from his body. “The main difference is mine was caught fairly early. If Keith’s dad had been seen early like I was, he might could have been helped.”

Like a lot of things, early detection does seem to be the best way to avoid the worst of sun cancer. But even better is avoiding it altogether, Warren says.

“Summer is here and a lot of people are going to be working and working out in the sun,” he said. “We just want them to know what the dangers are and to know the things they can do to protect themselves. Melanoma is a serious disease and a leading cause of cancer, but it’s preventable.”

For more information about entering the Run from the Sun, log on to the Mississippi Track Club’s web page at www.mstrackclub.com.