Sun protecting ALL at The Open 01 July 2024  |   Michelle Baker The Melanoma Fund is again working with organisers of The Open to ensure spectators have sun protection advice and access to sunscreen, helping avoid the risk of sunburn. This year the charity is going one step further and has partnered with BIGGA to ensure their bunker support team is equipped with SPF50 tube of Stokoderm sunscreen. Keeping the fairways at The Open manicured to perfection involves time, effort, and high levels of UV exposure. This collaboration sends a powerful message to golf clubs on the im ..read more

Rosie’s incredible UV colour changing bead bracelets! 15.06.23 |   Michelle Baker   Rosie Sullivan, the young lady behind ‘Rosie’s incredible UV changing bead bracelets’ has supported the Melanoma Fund since the tender age of four, when she joined her two sisters and mum Julie, at our skin check clinics in garden centres. Following this fun introduction to volunteering, Rosie appeared in one of the charity’s awareness videos to promote sun protection to other children, via the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code, which saw her drama skills come to life, in front of the camera, s ..read more

The OIA supports Sunguarding Outdoors 16.05.23  |   Michelle Baker With skin cancer rates rising rapidly in the UK, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors at the highest risk, sun protection awareness should be promoted throughout summer by every outdoor activity provider. To support this, the OIA supports Sunguarding Outdoors, a new campaign by the Melanoma Fund. Sunguarding Outdoors is designed to educate and protect the health of all who enjoy an active life outdoors.  Written by leading experts and supported by the UKs leading outdoor organisations and nationa ..read more

Douglas Park Golf Club supports the Melanoma Fund 07.02.23 |   Michelle Baker Having a golf club support us as their chosen charity ticks every box when it comes to our objectives. Not only does this help us raise awareness of sun protection and the risk of skin cancer in golf directly to members, but also spread our messages to a wider audience in sport. When it comes to the business of raising funds, this allows us to run our awareness campaigns on a national basis, and in this case, the Slip! Slap! Swing! sun protection campaign for golf. Douglas Park Golf Club may be at the ..read more

West Malling Golf Club supports the Melanoma Fund 23 January 2023 |   Michelle Baker Having created the Slip! Slap! Swing! campaign in 2019, we are delighted that the Melanoma Fund is now considered the ‘go to’ charity for sun protection in golf, helping raise awareness of UV exposure, to help keep skin cancer off the fairways. To help support our work, the new captains of the family-run, Kent-based West Malling Golf Club, have announced that the Melanoma Fund will be their club charity for 2023. Incoming club captains Donna Chuter and John (Joe) Harris made this official at th ..read more

A ‘Golden’ opportunity for the Melanoma Fund 15.12.22 |   Michelle Baker Alongside our official advisors and ambassadors, generating a passionate, active, and committed board of trustees is vital for any charity, and a key focus here at the Melanoma Fund. We are proud to announce we have a new Board member, and one that we know will help take the charity’s messages deeper into sport and outdoor recreation. James Golden, AKA The Fitness Pro, is a leading fitness coach and industry expert, with over 20 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. He has worked with som ..read more

Snow sporters advised to adopt the ‘reapply rule’ 13 Dec 2022  |   Michelle Baker The Melanoma Fund has teamed up with the UK’s leading snow sports organisations to get those heading to the slopes this season to improve their sun protection habits, to avoid the risk of sun damage and skin cancer. During summer sports, we know that sunscreen sweats, washes, and rubs off easily, meaning we must reapply more often. However, snow and strong winds erode sunscreen even faster, exposing skin to the intense UV rays, found at high altitudes. FACT: “For every 1,000ft above sea leve ..read more

Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund responds to the recent news around the latest Waitrose Christmas ad. “What on earth makes an organisation such as Waitrose pull a scene depicting two farmers glorifying their ‘tans’ from its latest Christmas ads? A fresh perspective, that’s what. It is interesting how this scene has quickly gone from innocent to unacceptable in a flash, and how progressively wonderful is that? For years, the pursuit of ‘the tan’ has been part of our culture, with sunbathing, sunbed use, and negligence around sun protection unfortunately all too commonplace. Although we ..read more

Dr Sophie Shotter joins the Melanoma Fund ambassador programme 24 Nov 2022  |   Michelle Baker The Melanoma Fund is the only charity in the UK that focuses on raising awareness of sun protection in sport and outdoor recreation, backed by hundreds of national governing bodies and outdoor organisations. To underpin this support, the charity has launched a new ‘active’ ambassador programme and welcomes onboard its newest recruit; award-winning skin aesthetic expert, Dr. Sophie Shotter. With over a decade of medical experience, Dr. Shotter is regularly featured in the media as ..read more

Why We Should All Skinguard 18 Nov 2022  |   Michelle Baker When it comes to monitoring our health, we all carry out small personal health checks daily, without thinking twice. From noticing how long it takes us to get out of breath, to prodding and squeezing for lumps, checking our joints, to examining what we excrete. These regular checks are a vital human trait designed to keep us on top of our health, detecting warning signs before they become problems, keeping us alive and kicking! However, when it comes to our skin, beyond angry rashes and cuts, many people tend not ..read more