Another Successful Walk for Ocular Melanoma Awareness

By Katie McFadden

The community took to the boardwalk on a muggy Sunday, May 4, in support of Casey Gallagher as she battles Ocular Melanoma, a rare eye cancer.

May marks Ocular Melanoma Awareness Month and Sunday marked a day of visibility in Rockaway as most participants wore t-shirts in honor of the cause, as they walked alongside Casey. The morning kicked off at the Beach 94th Amphitheater where Casey’s family shared a few words about this disease and thanked everyone for their support before the walk. Then everyone took to the boardwalk, including little kids on scooters and parents pushing carriages. Following the walk, everyone met up at Jamesons on Beach 129th Street for a post-walk party. Through a 50/50, donations were made towards A Cure in Sight.

Ocular melanoma is a rare type of eye cancer that occurs when the melanocytes in the eye become cancerous. Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives color to your eyes, skin and hair. The most notable sign is a dark spot on the iris that grows over time. Although rare, ocular melanoma is the most common type of eye cancer in adults. Gallagher battles this disease in her early thirties. Everyone is encouraged to get their eyes checked regularly.