Why Port Huron's Thomas Edison statue could be wearing a banana suit Saturday
Usually seen in a scarf, jacket and trousers, the Thomas Edison statue in Port Huron will be switching his outfit Saturday for something a little more colorful.
On Saturday, lifestyle company Sun Bum will cover 50 statues across the country in banana suits, one in each state, for a campaign to encourage sunscreen use and education. And Edison is Michigan’s chosen statue.
“Bananas can protect themselves with that nice peel, we can’t,” said Andrew Kercher, Port Huron Museums' community engagement director.
Representatives will set up in the area from 7 to 8 a.m. and will be on location with the banana suit until 5 p.m., he said.
Starting in May for Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Sun Bum is unveiling its “We Are Not Bananas” campaign to spread the message of how to prevent types of skin cancer.
The brand feels it’s “not bananas” to think people can prevent sun damage that can lead to skin cancer, and the more awareness they raise, the more people can protect themselves from the sun, according to a company release.
A Hollywood costume designer led a team of tailors and seamstresses in each state to create custom banana suits.
"1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime ..." said Sun Bum's Marketing and International Vice President Russell Radebaugh. "With our non-scare tactic approach of dressing statues in banana suits, we hope to create great awareness and virality to change the stat to 1 in 6 and remind everyone to use sunscreen daily."
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Kercher said organization representatives reached out to him about a month ago asking if it would be OK to share awareness by the statue and adorn it with the banana peel. The museums thought it would be fun and gave the go ahead.
“I can say the museum is firmly anti-skin cancer,” he said. “You can put us down as strongly against it.”
Edison is near and dear to the area’s heart and Kercher thought it was nice someone thought to include the statue in this campaign. It’s not disparaging to his memory, people put other items on the statue like masks and Santa hats.
It’s a lighthearted reminder while people are out and about to cover up and Kercher hopes people love it Saturday.
“I view it as kind of an honor,” he said.
Contact Bryce Airgood at (810) 989-6202 or bairgood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.