The Suncorp Skin Cancer Initiative

• Suncorp supports the prevention of Skin Cancer
• How Suncorp is helping
• Partners
• Sun Safety Tips
• What is skin cancer?

Suncorp supports the prevention of Skin Cancer

Queensland's high incidence of skin cancer is the motivating force behind Suncorp's community initiative to develop campaigns, in conjunction with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), on sun safety and skin cancer research and prevention.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Australia and the most expensive to treat, with one Australian being diagnosed with skin cancer every 90 seconds and more than $200 million spent annually on treatments. However, with regular checkups and the adoption of sun safe practices, the disease is largely preventable.

That is why Suncorp supports the prevention of skin cancer and has developed an extensive program of partnerships and community activities across Queensland to help educate the community about the dangers of sun exposure and raise vital funding towards a cure for the disease.

How Suncorp is helping

Research

Suncorp is supporting the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) to help find a cure for skin cancer. This three-year partnership represents the most significant sponsorship Suncorp has ever undertaken with a medical research institute and highlights our long-term commitment to funding treatment options for this deadly disease. Since the partnership commenced in September 2004, Suncorp has raised more than $600,000 for QIMR skin cancer research through a number of fundraising initiatives including the Suncorp Ride 4 Research, the Sunday Mail Suncorp Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run, staff and customer fundraising and promotions with the Queensland Bulls.

Education and Prevention

In December 2005 Suncorp increased its support of skin cancer prevention by launching a Queensland-wide advertising campaign reinforcing the need to stay safe in the sun. This emotive campaign used interesting facts about skin cancer to highlight the need to protect our skin when outdoors. This was the first time Suncorp had embarked on an education campaign to promote an important issue affecting the community. A similar advertising campaign will be launched again for summer 2006/2007.

Suncorp's beach and pool sun safe program also provides complimentary educational activity for Queenslanders. Together with partners from the Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns councils as well as the RLSSQ, Suncorp is active on up to 23 beaches and selected pools throughout Queensland. Sun safe activity at these beaches and pools includes the provision of UV warning and sun safety signage; allowance for Suncorp staff volunteers to spray complimentary sunscreen and remind people of the importance of covering up; and shade tents for public use in busy locations.

In conjunction with QIMR, Suncorp, regularly stages free community health seminars on skin cancer prevention. Seminars staged in June 2005 in regional Queensland were attended by more than 500 Queenslanders. More tours are scheduled in September 2006 in the Darling Downs region.

In May this year, Suncorp established a partnership with Greening Australia. Essentially, this partnership provides a staff volunteer driven 'shade tree planting program in selected areas throughout South-East Queensland. By volunteering to plant shade trees, Suncorp staff are assisting in the prevention of skin cancer for those who frequent parks, bikeways and other public-use areas nominated under the program.

Suncorp have also partnered with Molescan skin cancer clinics, located throughout Australia, to educate the community about the need for regular skin checks. Molescan are devoted to reducing skin cancer deaths and disease throughout the Australian population. Computerised technology enables Molescan to store images of skin lesions and moles for life so that early changes can be detected. Through the partnership, every Suncorp staff member can receive a free skin check at a Molescan clinic.

Partners

Queensland Institute of Medical Research

An important part of the skin cancer strategy is to support research for a cure for skin cancer. The Institute is recognised as one of Australia's pre-eminent research centres and is regarded as a centre for excellence in cutting-edge medical research. Suncorp's support of QIMR will enable QIMR to continue its world-renowned program for skin cancer and increase awareness of the breakthrough research being conducted by QIMR scientists.

Greening Australia

Suncorp has established a partnership with Greening Australia Queensland that forms part of our overall Skin Cancer Awareness initiative. A new shade tree planting and maintenance program available to Suncorp staff volunteers has commenced from May 2006 in south-east Queensland regions including Pine Rivers, Nudgee and the Gold Coast.

This new partnership, planned for the cooler seasons from May to November, is complimentary to our established skin cancer partnerships and related activities for reasons two-fold:

Firstly, the program timing provides skin cancer prevention activity for Suncorp staff and our local communities in between the summer months (when our beach and other sun safe programs are in place).

And secondly, maximum UV protection can be achieved by coupling shade protection, which can block up to 75% of the sun's harmful rays, with sun-protective clothing and sunscreen.

So, not only is Suncorp now promoting sun safe practices within our local communities - we are also helping to provide these communities with a long term solution to skin cancer prevention.

Staff who volunteer to participate in the Suncorp and Greening Australia shade tree planting and maintenance program will be assisting in the prevention of skin cancer for Queenslander's who frequent the parks, bikeways and other public-use areas nominated under the program.

A minimum of 30 preparation, planting and maintenance events will be conducted as a part of the program and each event will involve groups of 10 - 15 Suncorp staff volunteers with activity facilitated by experienced Greening Australia Queensland co-ordinators.

Noosa, Caloundra and Maroochy City Councils

Suncorp partners with Sunshine Coast Lifeguard Services in Noosa, Caloundra and Maroochydore to promote its sun safety messages on Queensland beaches over the summer months. Suncorp branded shade tents and UV warning signs are be placed on beaches along the Sunshine Coast. From December to February over 500 Suncorp staff used their volunteer day on the beaches to spray complimentary sunscreen for beachgoers.

     

Cairns, Townsville and Mackay City Councils

Suncorp partners with North Queensland Councils including Townsville, Cairns and Mackay to promote its sun safety messages, primarily on North Queensland beaches and at local pools during the summer months.

At Townsville in particular, a joint sun safety partnership was launched in December 2005 between Suncorp and Townsville City Council with an overriding objective to determine sun safe priorities in the local community and to implement awareness, education and prevention strategies to address these priorities.

     

Molescan

As part of the launch, Suncorp staff will be encouraged to visit their local Molescan clinic or GP for a skin check. Those staff who take up the offer and get their skin checked will receive a free merchandise pack.

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland (RLSSQ)

Suncorp is partnering with RLSSQ to promote its sun safety messages throughout Qld pools.

Sun Safety Tips

• Avoid outdoors when UV levels are highest – between 10am and 2pm (11am – 3pm during daylight savings)
• Wear sun protective clothing and hats whenever outside.
• Wear sunscreen every day – whether summer or winter and re-apply every 2 hours.
• While shade alone can reduce overall exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays, UV radiation can scatter and reflect off surfaces such as water, sand and concrete meaning that shade protection must go hand in hand with wearing sun protective clothing and sunscreen to provide maximum UV protection.
• Regularly check your skin for unusual or changed moles, blemishes, freckles.
• Have somebody regularly check areas on your skin that you can't see – like your head and your back. Skin cancer can develop anywhere.
• See your doctor if you notice any change in your skin – especially if a mole begins to bleed, itch or change colour or shape.

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a disease of the body's skin cells caused by over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation - from the sun's rays or from other sources such as solariums or sunbeds. UV damages the cells' genes.

There are 3 main types of skin cancer:

1. Basal Cell Carcinoma (least dangerous but most common - occurs on body parts that are typically not exposed to sun)
2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (common skin cancer - occurs on body parts typically exposed to the sun)
3. Melanoma (most serious kind of skin cancer - occurs anywhere on the body)

Facts about skin cancer:

• Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world.
• Childhood sun exposure greatly increases the chances of skin cancer later in life.
• It can take just 6 minutes to burn in the sun.

To find out more about our partners visit:
Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) – www.qimr.edu.au
Molescan – www.molescan.com.au
Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland (RLSSQ) – www.rlssq.com.au