Tuesday the Canadian Cancer Society launched its first ever Tanning is OUT campaign with Correlieu Secondary and seven other schools across the Northern Region.
From March 1 – April 1, the Canadian Cancer Society challenges grade 12 students at Correlieu to take a stand against skin cancer by pledging to be tan free for their grad.
Gold Pan City students are competing with schools in Prince George, Terrace, Smithers and Houston to be the school with the highest percentage of grade 12 students making this commitment.
“Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is one of the most common cancers in young people between the ages of 15 and 29,” health promotion coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society, Megan Klitch said.
“Use of indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75 per cent.”
According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, one Canadian dies of skin cancer about every seven hours.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer recently upgraded the classification of indoor tanning from a possible to a known carcinogen.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates there were 790 new cases of melanoma in BC in 2010 and 130 deaths. Grads in Quesnel don’t want their friends to join these statistics.
Students at Correlieu Secondary School are preparing to launch their awareness campaign and to encourage their classmates to own their skin tone.
“Grads who take this pledge will receive discounts from Bliss, the City of Quesnel, Essential Boutique and Rocky’s,” Klitch said.
“They also have the opportunity to be entered in a draw to win some really amazing prizes like a Pandora bracelet, CNC tuition credit or concert tickets.”
To read more about what local teens are doing to raise awareness about the harms associated with tanning, go to facebook.com/thenorthfightsback.
The Canadian Cancer Society fights cancer by doing everything they can to prevent cancer, save lives and support people living with cancer.
Join the fight – go to fightback.ca to find out how you can help. For more on cancer, visit the website at cancer.ca or call toll-free Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333.