In February of 2001, at the age of 33, Shonda was diagnosed with stage 2 malignant melanoma. A total of 5 surgeries left 25 scars crisscrossing her back, arms, legs and chest. Shonda and her family were living in Arizona at the time and they immediately adopted responsible sun habits into their daily routines.

In October 2001 Shonda’s husband, Curt Schilling, won the World Series co-MVP honor for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The media quickly picked up on her skin cancer diagnosis. Her story was featured in People Magazine, Glamour, Family Circle, Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping and on ABC’s “The View.” Shonda invited Good Morning America and the nation into the operating room to witness her fifth surgery, hoping her sunsafety message might inspire others to get their skin checked and alter their sun habits.

In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency teamed up with The SHADE Foundation to pro­mote SunWise, a sun-safety curriculum for schools. The launch of this partnership was heard by 20 million people through media exposure. Hundreds of school principals across the country signed up to teach the SunWise program in their classrooms. The partnership earned Shonda and The SHADE Foundation the “Excellence in Cancer Awareness” award from the Congressional Families Program of the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation in Washington, DC.

Shonda also launched SHADE’s first annual National Poster Contest in con­

junction with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Department of Health. Thousands of school children learned sunsafety by drawing a SunWise poster for the contest. That same year, Shonda was awarded the Girl Scout World of Humanity Award by the Arizona Cactus – Pine Girl Scout Council. In her honor they lunched the SHADE Badge for scouts to earn.

In 2004, SHADE’s east coast presence became known when Shonda moved to Boston, MA as her husband began pitching with the Boston Red Sox. Shonda partnered SHADE with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to launch the SHADE Prevention Initiative in MA. She was rec­og­nized nationally with the Speaker Thomas J. “Tip” O’Neill, Jr. Award for Public Service by the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board. Shonda teamed up SHADE Foundation with the Boston Red Sox to begin the SunWise Poster Contest in Massachusetts, which again resulted in overwhelming success. Thousands of students entered the contest and learned skin cancer prevention techniques. The American Academy of Dermatology recognized Shonda’s awareness efforts with an individual achievement Gold Triangle Award. She was given the Alumni of the Year Award from Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and received the Outstanding Fundraiser Award by the Association of Professional Fundraisers.

In 2005, Shonda ran the PF Chang’s Rock N Roll Marathon and the Boston Marathon raising $150,000 for The Shade Foundation. Shonda graciously accepted an honorary doctorate degree in public service from Framingham State College. She was awarded the exceptional women’s award for community service by Boston radio st­tion Magic 106.7. Shonda testified before the Arizona state legislatures in an effort to help pass the current law requir­ing schools to teach the SunWise curriculum in the state of Arizona. Shonda and her family appeared in a public service print advertisement promoting sunsafety in Sports Illustrated’s popular swimsuit issue and in a television PSA that aired in New England and around the country.

In 2006, Shonda finished her 2nd Boston Marathon on behalf of the SHADE Foundation. She received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Merrimack College and was given the Lady Baden Powell Good Scout Award by the Boston Minuteman Council. Shonda continued the Play It Smart When It Comes to the Sun program with MLB and reached millions of Americans with her sun safety message during media appearances with Geraldo At Large, Women’s World Magazine among other local channels across the country.

Most recently Shonda received the 2009 EPA Ozone Layer Protection Award.

Shonda continues to be involved in SHADE and spread her passion for skin cancer awareness and sun safety. She completed the 2009 Chicago Marathon for team SHADE and continues to appear at SHADE functions and events.

Shonda Michelle Brewer grew up in Maryland and graduated from Towson State College majoring in journalism. She worked in television production for Home Team Sports in Baltimore until marrying Curt Schilling in 1992. They have four children: Gehrig, (5/27/95), Gabriella, (5/22/97), Grant, (10/13/99) and Garrison, (6/27/02). The family resides in Medfield, MA.