Free suncream offered as part of 'Sun Safe' campaign to tackle cancer fears as Sheffield braces for heatwave
“It’s a fantastic project and will make a difference”
An initiative in Sheffield is hoping to help residents reduce the risk of developing skin cancer as another heatwave bring yet more sunshine to the city.
In what has been one of the driest summers on record, people across the UK have been battling against dangerous UV levels.
So in a bid to help residents in Sheffield deal with the problem suncream dispensers have been placed in shops, cafes and pubs along the main retail centre in Crookes, thanks to Vanessa Senger of the Crookes Forum community group with funding from local councillors.
Businesses taking part can be identified by a yellow ‘Sun Safe Sheffield’ sticker in the window.
The wider Sun Safe campaign launched out of the work of Sheffield resident Charlotte Killeya, who is living with Stage 4 Melanoma skin cancer.
Charlotte addressed a Sheffield full council meeting in 2024 to raise awareness of how people are at risk of developing skin cancer, and asked the council to join her in taking educational and practical action which resulted in a cross-party pledge from councillors to support her public health campaign.
Charlotte, who is supported in her campaign work by national charity Melanoma Focus, said: “I’m passionate about raising awareness of sun safety due to my own diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer.
“It’s a fantastic project and will make a difference. Rates of melanoma are increasing but by raising awareness and knowing how to keep safe in the sun, we can reverse this trend.”
Vanessa added: "I've known Charlotte for many years, and really admire her resolve to get word out about the dangers of sun exposure.
“We wanted to do something practical as well as educational, and that's how the suncream dispenser idea came about for Crookes. Big thanks to our local councillors for providing the funding to get this started."