Jam for Cam
Guest blog post by Luke Ferrara, melanoma advocate and Jam for Cam organizer:
“Jam for Cam was founded in 2018 to honor the life and legacy of Cameron Fearon, a UGA student who passed away from metastatic melanoma that same year. Diagnosed in eighth grade, Cameron faced every challenge with quiet resilience, never allowing the disease to define him. During his time at Georgia, he developed a deep passion for music and dreamed of organizing a battle-of-the-bands-style event in Athens. After his passing, his close friends brought that vision to life, hosting the first Jam for Cam in his honor. In 2018, Jam for Cam had 5,500 attendees and raised $74,000.
What began as a heartfelt tribute, has now become one of Athens’ most meaningful annual music events, raising awareness and funds for melanoma research and scholarships. With this year’s fundraising efforts, Jam for Cam has surpassed $1 million in total funds raised. While these contributions support vital charities such as the Melanoma Research Foundation, the true heart of the event lies in its ability to bring people together—to celebrate life through music, community and shared purpose.
Jam for Cam has one primary objective for its attendees and supporters: to get their skin checked. If one person leaves this event and gets checked for melanoma and survives, it’s all completely worth it. When Jam for Cam was founded, we looked to partner with a foundation that shared this vision with us and is at the forefront of preventing melanoma. We specifically found the MRF’s research grants appealing and are proud to support breakthrough technologies in medical research. Beyond research, the MRF’s commitment to education, advocacy and patient support has continually reinforced our decision to stand alongside them. Their dedication to spreading awareness and providing resources for those affected by melanoma aligns perfectly with our mission. Knowing that our contributions help fuel this momentum keeps us committed to supporting the MRF and making a lasting difference in the fight against melanoma. The Melanoma Research Foundation is the premier advocate in the US for melanoma awareness and research, we are proud to be a supporter.”