‘Don’t risk your life just to get a sun tan’

tumours which move her diagnosis to stage four - the highest and most challenging stage to treat.

“I’m putting a brave face on it,” said Sarah. “I’m fighting every day and I want to use my experience to prevent anyone else going through this.” Sarah was never a sun-worshiper, but when she was asked to be a bridesmaid she was told by the bride to get on a sun bed as the bride didn’t want a “pasty-faced bridesmaid.”

“I wish I’d said no,” Sarah said. “I went on a sun bed three times a week. I’ll never know if it led to this, but there are links between sun bed use and cancer. I can’t prove it or rule it out, but it just isn’t worth this.”

Sarah, married to Darren, is mum to Morgan, 15, and Mason, 12, and lives in Low Moor near Bradford.

She has family in Kirkburton and in Leeds and says the impact has been felt far and wide.

Asked what her advice was for people who use sun beds, she said: “What is the point of risking your life for a tan?

Sarah is focusing on the positives. She is mentoring young carers and other patients going through melanoma, saying she wants to give back and raise awareness.

The petition calls on the government to “follow the lead of Australia and ban commercial sun beds.”

It adds that melanoma kills six people every day and sun beds have increased the risk of developing cancer.

To sign the petition visit: https:// petition.parliament.uk/petitions/223903