CANCER CHARITY BACKS BID TO BAN SUNBEDs
16 June 2010
A North West cancer charity is backing a bid to ban sunbeds in gyms and spas across the region.
North West Cancer Research Fund (NWCRF) is offering its support to a campaign to encourage all gyms and spas to ban sunbeds after recent figures revealed more than a quarter of a million 11 to 17 year olds are risking their health by using sunbeds.
Anne Jackson, Chief Executive, NWCRF said: “We are challenging gyms and spas across the North West to remember that they are in the health business and offering the use of sunbeds is a complete contradiction in terms.
“The Club and Spa at Hoole Hall in Chester is a great example of how commercial operations can take a stand against skin cancer and remain true to their mission as providers of health and fitness facilities by banning sunbeds across the board.
“We are encouraging gyms and spas across the north west to sign up to our campaign and join the battle against skin cancer.”
North West Cancer Research Fund (NWCRF) raises money to fund research into the causes of cancer and how it spreads. It supports three research facilities across the region; University of Liverpool, Bangor and Lancaster.
NWCRF is currently funding two projects researching skin cancer, the first looking at how UVA rays can lead to skin cancer and another at the metastasis of malignant melanoma or how the cancer spreads.
Already this research has shown that the risk of cancerous melanomas is increased by 75% when the use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age. This shocking statistic is backed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s decision to categorise sunbed use with the same risk factor as cigarette smoking.
Stephanie McDonnell, Spa manager at The Club and Spa at Hoole Hall, said: “We promote health and fitness and by condoning the use of equipment which causes cancer, seems crazy. We have urged other health and fitness centres across Chester to ban the use of sunbeds and are very pleased that North West Cancer Research Fund has taken this step to encourage this move across the North West.”
All gyms and spas signing up to NWCRF’s skin cancer campaign will receive an official NWCRF certificate to publicly show they are taking a stand against skin cancer as well as a listing on the www.nwcrf.co.uk website.
Those gyms and spas interested in signing up to NWCRF’s skin cancer campaign should contact Lucinda Bray at NWCRF on 0151 709 2919.
NWCRF is the north west’s most cost effective charity, supplying almost 90p in every £1 donated directly to cancer research units.