PEABODY, Mass. – Tickets are available for the Melanoma Education Foundation’s seventh annual calendar raffle to support skin cancer teacher-training and student materials in New England schools. There are 31 prizes and each ticket remains in all 31 drawings, starting July 1.

Prizes include a golf foursome at the Georgetown Club, an overnight stay for two at the Sheraton Boston, Red Sox tickets and gift certificates to restaurants and stores.

Tickets are $5 each, three for $10, or seven for $20 and are tax-deductible. To order tickets by mail, send check or money order to MEF Calendar Raffle, PO Box 2023, Peabody, MA 01960. Tickets may also be ordered by credit card by calling 800-259-1633.

The foundation is also seeking volunteers to sell tickets and distribute skin cancer literature outside of stores on Fridays and Saturdays from May 25 to June 30. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and will work in pairs. For more information, send e-mail to [email protected] or call 800-259-1633.

More than 500 schools across New England have adopted the SkinCheck program, including 46 in Maine. The foundation provides a video training to high school and middle school health educators at no cost.

The training educates teachers about melanoma and provides them with a lesson plan and materials for teaching their students about it in a single class session. Each health teacher also receives a student video, teacher resource CD and a supply of early detection bookmarks for their students.

Area schools using the Skin Check program include Carrie Ricker Middle School, Litchfield; Dirigo High School, Dixfield; Lewiston High School and Lewiston Middle School; Mountain Valley Middle School, Rumford; North Yarmouth Academy; Phillips Elementary School; Poland Regional High School; Stratton Elementary School; Strong Elementary School; and Tripp Middle School, Turner.