MAJOR SUN SAFETY INITIATIVE BEGINS

A major new initiative aims to raise awareness of sun protection in sport and outdoor recreation in response to a worrying rise in skin cancer in the UK. Sunguarding Sport, which was launched by the Melanoma Fund earlier this month, is backed by more than 40 national governing bodies, including England Athletics, the Welsh Sport Association and Sport NI.

Sportspeople receive substantially higher UV exposure, and routinely exceed the recommended exposure limits, increasing their risk of skin cancer. Factors such as sweating, water contact, minimal clothing and lack of shade make wearing sun protection even more important; however, only 50% of people wear sunscreen while exercising outdoors.

Since the early 1990s, rates of nonmelanoma skin cancer have risen by 170%, with more than 156,000 cases reported a year. This equates to a staggering 430 people a day receiving a diagnosis that could have been mainly prevented with adequate sun protection.

Sunguarding Sport is a free resource for participants, spectators and officials, which while encouraging people to get outdoors, puts sun protection firmly on the radar. It is recommended for all clubs and organisations to take a look at the resources available.

Extensive information and advice is available on the Melanoma Fund website at: melanomafund.co.uk/sunguarding-sport/