Prince George, B.C. –Students at Duchess Park Secondary in Prince George have won the title for the Tan-Free Grad challenge in Northern B.C.

 

The Canadian Cancer Society BC & Yukon had challenged 8 high schools in the north to  “rock the skin they’re in”, and forego  the “prom tan”.

 

Laura Fletcher and Kayla Buttress were the tan free leaders spearheading the campaign at Duchess Park Secondary where 143 out of 144 eligible grads took the pledge to be tan free for grad. “We really wanted to raise awareness about skin cancer. There are so many myths that need to be broken” says Fletcher. “I learned a lot about the dangers of tanning and after learning about the consequences, I will never tan again,” explained Buttress.

 

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Canada and over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and indoor tanning equipment is the major cause of skin cancer. Skin cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers.

 

Melanoma skin cancer – the most severe form of skin cancer – is the third most common form of cancer for people between the ages of 15 and 29. In an effort to prevent skin cancer, grade 12 students from northern high schools lead the Challenge by educating their peers on the dangers of Ultraviolet radiation from both the sun and indoor tanning equipment and by collecting tan-free pledges from their fellow students.

 

“We know that there is no safe way to get a tan and that any use of indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 can increase a person’s risk of melanoma” says Kerensa Medhurst, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Canadian Cancer Society. “With teens still accessing tanning beds, we have our work cut out for us”.

 

In addition to the Challenge, the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon, applauds the announcement made during the pledge month by the Honourable Health Minister, Michael de Jong, to restrict access to tanning beds for young people under the age of 18. “The regulation is anticipated to take effect this fall”, says Kerensa Medhurst. 

 

“This is another step forward in cancer prevention,” said Barbara Kaminsky, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon. “The decision to introduce this healthy public policy has the support of the majority of British Columbians, and will help protect young people from getting skin cancer later in life.”