We’ve got your back!

Picture: Dr Muinonen-Martin with Julie Russell in their ‘I’ve Got Your Back’ tee shirts

As summer approaches, we’ve joined forces with a leading skin expert to spread an important sun safety message.

In Sun Awareness Week 2019 (May 6-12), York Against Cancer has launched its first I’ve Got Your Back summer campaign to encourage people to look after their nearest and dearest.

We’re calling on people to check each other’s backs and other areas that individuals can’t easily see for themselves, to tell them of any suspicious looking moles or marks and to encourage them to visit their GPs with any concerns.

The drive has been backed by Dr Andy Muinonen-Martin, Consultant Dermatologist at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Consultant Dermatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

“I think this is a fantastic idea from York Against Cancer,” said Dr Martin. “This is the time of year when the sun comes out and people start to dress more lightly, and if you see any unusual moles or patches of skin it is important to get them checked out.

"Regularly checking your own skin and helping others with difficult to see areas such as backs is key to catching cancer early, which we know saves lives. Once-monthly skin checks are ideal."

Julie Russell, our general manager, said York Against Cancer had long emphasised sun safety.

It had funded high-tech equipment to help Vale of York GPs detect potential skin cancers, and it conducted an annual campaign giving thousands of free sunhats to local schoolchildren.

“This year, our Cancer Awareness and Prevention team is also handing out fun leaflets that spread a sun safety message while giving youngsters a game to play,” she said.

“We see the ‘I’ve Got Your Back’ campaign as a natural progression of the work that we do each year and we hope our message encourages people to look after each other in the sun.”