Fashionably Aware: Empowering Our Community with Sun-Safe Style. July 29, 2025.

Display of skincare products and informational posters promoting a wellness event and a skincare project at a wooden table.
A woman and a young man smiling and posing together indoors. The woman is wearing a large sun hat and a light denim jacket. The young man is holding a framed sign that reads "The Closer Look Project." Behind them is a wall with a painted mural of two frogs holding drinks and a beer barrel, with the words "Body by BT's" above.
A smiling man with sunglasses and a woman with dark hair, wearing a black dress with jewelry, standing together outdoors at a restaurant or café, with a fence and trees in the background.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, The Closer Look Project proudly hosted its inaugural partnered event, "Fashionably Aware," at BT's Restaurant in Radford, VA. This groundbreaking session brought together boutique clients, owners, and personnel for an insightful exploration into the world of sun protection through clothing.

"Fashionably Aware" was a unique collaboration with Meg Weddle, owner of Meg's Boutique in Radford, VA. The event's core mission was to educate attendees on the vital importance of SPF and UPF, empowering them to make informed choices about protective clothing. Meg's Boutique beautifully showcased eight items from her inventory that offer excellent sun coverage, many featuring a UPF claim.

A key takeaway for all attendees was the empowering message that effective UPF dress doesn't have to break the bank. We emphasized how understanding naturally UV-protective fabrics and colors, in combination with sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, can provide ample protection.

The event fostered incredible conversation and connection. During a lively Q&A session, a valuable discussion arose regarding the common misconception that dark-colored clothing offers less UV protection. We clarified that while dark colors absorb more heat, they also absorb a wider range of ultraviolet rays, thus offering better protection than light colors, which reflect more light (The Skin Cancer Foundation, 2025, reviewed by Elisabeth G. Richard, MD).

The atmosphere was nothing short of amazing, with one audience member exclaiming, "This was such an amazing, informative session, and I had no clue about UPF until today. It definitely needs to be talked about more!" This sentiment truly captured the spirit and success of "Fashionably Aware."

We were thrilled to have a reporter from WBDJ7 news channel in attendance, highlighting the community's interest in this vital topic. Alongside photos of myself and Meg Weddle, you'll see a glimpse of our setup and the WBDJ7 reporter, reflecting the engaging environment of the day.

Challenge yourselves to:

  • Read up on UPF in average clothing.

  • Encourage your local boutiques to explore clothing that invests in the UPF claim. Remember, the American Cancer Society recommends UPF 30 and higher, similar to the SPF recommendation for sunscreen.

"Fashionably Aware" was more than an event; it was a movement towards a more educated and sun-safe community, proving that staying protected can be both fashionable and accessible.

-The Closer Look Project

A Partnership That Could Save Lives: "See Something, Say Something" September 3, 2025.

Earlier this week, Less Cancer hosted an inspiring and educational workshop where the worlds of beauty and health came together for a lifesaving cause. Our "See Something, Say Something" event, held in Logan, West Virginia, brought together personal care professionals and healthcare providers to empower a new network of cancer prevention advocates. Several wonderful voices were heard at the event, including Christine Runyon, Bill Couzens, Caleb Runyon, Shayla Procopio, Brent Tomblin, Anitra Ellis, Lisa Heston, Monica Baskin, Tricia Petzold, and Mary Ellen Conn.

One of the standout voices was Caleb Runyon, N.P., a dermatology nurse practitioner and the force behind The Closer Look Project. Caleb's expertise, rooted in the personal story of his Papaw's stage 4 melanoma diagnosis, brought a powerful and deeply human perspective to the panel. As Caleb shared, we are "creating a space where the beauty industry meets health care [that] may save a life."

A powerful "aha moment" came from our fellow panelist, Monica Baskin, Ph.D., who highlighted a simple but profound truth: hairdressers and other personal care professionals are often a trusted source for their clients. This unique relationship gives them an incredible amount of influence, a fact that can be leveraged to save lives through early detection.

Bill Couzens, Founder & CEO of Less Cancer, was an amazing host and brought so much energy & expertise to the event. We are so thankful to have joined Bill and his amazing organization to help bring this event to life in Logan, WV.

The energy in the room was electric, and we were so grateful for the enthusiastic participation. The conversations continued well after the event, and we are excited to see this training turn into real action. We are proud to have partnered with so many wonderful parties to bring this vital message to our community.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped us take one more step toward a world free of cancer.

-The Closer Look Project

Indoor event space decorated for a celebration with a large, white Christmas tree adorned with pink, gold, and white ornaments, surrounded by black chairs, a white sofa, and elegant wall decor.
Group of women and girls posing for a photo in a conference room, with posters about cancer prevention and risk in the background.
Two men are at the front of a room during a presentation. One man is sitting in a chair, has tattoos on his legs, is wearing camouflage shorts, a black t-shirt, and black sneakers. The other man is standing with a microphone, gesturing with his hand, and is wearing glasses, a brown jacket, black shirt, white pants, and brown shoes. There are informational banners behind them, including one for LessCancer.org focused on prevention.
A table displaying promotional materials and informational pamphlets about the Closer Look Project, with a framed sign reading 'The Closer Look Project' in the background.
A woman sits in a black salon chair holding a microphone, while a man stands behind her styling her hair. There are informational banners about cancer prevention in the background.
Hair salon interior with black styling chairs, mirrors, and wooden flooring.
Decorated Christmas tree with pink, white, and gold ornaments, pumpkins, and flowers, standing indoors near windows with beige curtains.
Three people posing together smiling inside a room with informational banners about cancer prevention in the background.
Two men seated on chairs in front of a presentation screen, participating in a discussion or seminar. There are banners behind them with health-related information from LessCancer.org, and the screen displays a guy and a woman with a title that reads 'the AV company.' The setting appears to be a small conference room with a ceiling-mounted projector and mirrors on the wall.
Group of six people standing together indoors at a health or wellness event, with informational banners in the background about cancer prevention and options.
A woman sitting in a black chair holding a microphone, smiling, a man standing beside her with his hand on her shoulder, both participating in an event about cancer prevention with banners behind them.
Four women and one young girl standing together in a salon, smiling at the camera.