A team of Canadian Cancer Society volunteers and The Burnadettes, ‘Scarlett and Burnie’, recently visited Kitsilano beach in Vancouver to raise awareness about the dangers of tanning. These show stopping comedians helped us spread the message that “Tanning is Out” to beach goers attending the BC Open volleyball tournament. While the characters were funny the issue is serious. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada and is mostly preventable. In 2011 it is estimated that 74,100 new cases are expected in Canada. In British Columbia, melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – is the sixth most common cancer in both men and women.
We know that up to one-half of cancers are preventable and that there are many things we can do in our lives everyday to reduce our risks including limiting exposure to the dangers of Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR). The Tanning is Out campaign was developed to help address this risk. A prevention based initiative, the goal is to encourage youth to pledge to forgo tanning both indoors and outdoors and influence behaviour change. It began as a pilot project, and this past spring we launched our first ever Tan-Free Grad campagin in over 20 highschools throughout BC where over 3000 students took the tan free pledge. Our summer campaign is well underway and our Tanning is Out volunteer ambassador teams are attending a variety of festivals and events to help people enjoy the sun safely and spread the tan free message. To find out more or to pledge to be tan free this summer please visit cancergameplan.ca and like “Tanning is Out” on facebook.
About the contributor:
Stacey Berisavac is a Health Promotion Team Leader in the Greater Vancouver Region of the Canadian Cancer Society. As a part our of Cancer Prevention team she works to stop cancer before it starts through a combination of education, advocating for healthy public policy change, and creating action and positive change in communities.
I know I don’t have to tell everyone about the devastating impact of cancer. However I would like to tell you about the amazing impact of the Canadian Cancer Society. We have just published our 2010 Community Report.
Cancer is not about a disease. It’s about people fighting for their lives – people who would give anything to regain good health, to reclaim the life they had before cancer and to have more time with their loved ones.
The Canadian Cancer Society fights for life. We believe it takes conviction, strength and the commitment of all of us to overcome cancer. The Society leads the fight for life with cancer prevention initiatives, investments in outstanding research and the delivery of caring, compassionate support for those on the cancer journey.
In 2010 the Canadian Cancer Society BC and Yukon Division made significant progress in the fight against cancer. A snapshot of the work achieved includes: influencing policies on tobacco control and environmental carcinogens by working with governments and communities to introduce healthy public policies that reduce the risk of cancer; investing approximately $5 million in 12 outstanding cancer research projects; and providing trusted cancer information and caring practical and personal support to many thousands of people in BC and the Yukon. To learn more about the ways we fought cancer in 2010 please view our 2010 Community Report.
We are extremely grateful to all our donors and volunteers for their continuing generosity and passion. Your gifts and efforts are making a difference in the lives of Canadians with cancer and helping to eradicate cancer. Thank you for joining our fight for life.
Anyone with cancer will tell you it’s the fight of their life. We believe it takes a community to fight cancer, and Relay For Life is one of the ways communities across BC and the Yukon can join the fight.
I recently had the privilege of attending the 20th annual Coquitlam Relay For Life – an event that was started by a passionate volunteer in 1999 and has grown to become the largest Relay For Life in Canada.
Relay For Life is a unique, empowering and unforgettable experience that celebrates cancer survivors, remembers loved ones lost and mobilizes communities to fight back against cancer. For more information or to get involved visit www.relaybc.ca
Thank you to the volunteers who make Relay For Life possible, and to the communities who embrace it and have joined our fight for life!
