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Ladyhawke will play an exclusive gig for just one person… and their online
social network. The new 'Skindividual' initiative,
from SunSmart (Cancer Research UK's skin cancer awareness
campaign), aims to encourage young people to protect their skin from too much
UV by harnessing the power of social networks and rewarding those who grow the
biggest online guestlist.
The campaign launches in response to a survey suggesting that young people
are engaging in ‘competitive tanning’ with their mates – a
worrying situation given the link between too much UV and skin cancer. Rates
of malignant melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer - have more
than doubled among young people in the past 20 years, and it is now the most
common form of cancer in Britain among 15-34 year olds.
A specially created new networking site, www.skindividual.co.uk, will
allow users to grow gig guestlists via their existing profiles on social networks
– such as Facebook, MySpace, bebo and Twitter - along with any other imaginative
ways they can think of. Skindividual members can start a guestlist of their
own or join one or more started by their friends. To enter the competition they
need to identify themselves as 'skindividual' - someone who recognises that
their skin is unique, wants to protect it from too much UV and is proud to do
so.
The ten people with the largest guestlists on 17th July will be invited to
submit a short film – taken on a mobile phone, camera or webcam - expressing
why their network should win the gig. These films will be judged by a high-profile
panel, which includes Jamie Brittain, the 23 year old co-creator of Channel
4's Skins; Callum Negus-Fancey, the 18 year old entrepreneur and brains behind
teen club nights Let's Go Crazy; and Sam Killcoyne, Founder of the Underage
Festival.
The 'skindividual' gig takes place at The Relentless
Garage in Islington on 26th August, where Ladyhawke will be joined by some of
the UK's freshest young talent, including winners of Channel 4's Road to V,
Bombay Bicycle Club. Further acts will be announced over the coming weeks.
A new survey into the sun habits of 16-24 year-olds, which was conducted via
The Student Room, the UK's no. 1 student website, reveals almost a quarter (23%)
of young people placed getting a tan as one of their top priorities during the
summer holidays, with 28% admitting their peers can be competitive over who
has the best tan. 45% of young people admitted to not protecting their skin
as much as they should, and 27% reported they would be more likely to apply
sunscreen when alone, compared to when they are with their mates.
Other worrying findings include:
* 27 per cent were not likely to take any measures to protect their skin this
summer
* 29 per cent were more concerned about getting wrinkles than developing skin
cancer
* 14 per cent wouldn't let 'a few scare stories about skin cancer' stop them
from sunbathing
* 8 per cent saw burning as a key step to achieving a bronzed look
Ladyhawke says:
"Being individual and doing your own thing is one of the most important
parts of being young. And let's face it, your skin is a pretty major part
of what makes us who we are, so it's something we should take extra care in
protecting – particularly since skin cancer's a growing problem in the
UK."
Ed Yong from Cancer Research UK comments:
"Few people are aware that sun damage at a young age can make your
skin look old, wrinkly and leathery well before its time. It can also dramatically
increase the chances of developing melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin
cancer. It's not just older people that are affected – increasingly
we are seeing young people being diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease."
Cancer Research UK
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is
to beat cancer.
*
Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve
understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat
different kinds
of cancer.
* Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives
of all cancer patients.
* Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is
being made and the choices each person can make.
* Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest
impact in the global fight against cancer.
For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how
to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit their website (link
at bottom of this page).
News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health
issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. Any views expressed
in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in
this news item was released by Cancer Research UK on 17
June 2009 and may have been edited (e.g. in style,
length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion
here. For further information, please visit their website.
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