HUDSON, Mass. -- Shonda Schilling, the wife of Red Sox pitching ace Curt Schilling, has many passions, including her children, husband and warning people about the dangers of sun exposure.

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that Shonda Schilling is a melanoma survivor. Schilling took her message for sun safety to the C.A. Farley Elementary School in Hudson, where it was informally "Melanoma Monday."

"Your skin is the biggest living organ on your body," she told the students.

At 33, Schilling was diagnosed with melanoma in 2001. She is now on a mission to make children live a more "sun safe" life. Founder of the SHADE Foundation, Schilling did not sugarcoat her message to the students.

"Twenty percent more people are getting skin cancer. The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says it's the fastest growing cancer in the U.S.," Schilling said.

"If the damage builds up year after year, pretty soon at age 25, 30 or 40, you may develop skin cancer," said Dr. Mark Scharf of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

Schilling told the students that there is no such thing as a healthy tan and quizzed them on ways to keep their skin safe while at play with the basics like sun block, long sleeves and broad-brimmed hats.

After the presentation, the students recounted what they learned about sun safety.

"To wear sunscreen," one student said.

"I learned even when it's cloudy, you can get sunburned," said another student.

With skin cancer on both sides of the family, Schilling insists that her children, who range in age from 3 to 10, wear full protective clothing if they're out during the day.

"It's not a choice. See, I am the mom. I laugh at people when they say I can't get my daughter out of the tanning bed. 'You are the mom. Stop waiting for people to make legislation,'" she said.

Schilling's SHADE Foundation is sponsoring a shade poster contest for children. Whoever designs the best poster using sun-wise tips will get to meet Curt Schilling and throw out the first ball at a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

Poster contest entries must be postmarked by May 7.