New day to check out your skin

Friday 24 April 2015

A local charity is hoping its first awareness day next week will encourage more Islanders to get their moles checked.

Next Friday is “Melanoma Check Day” – a day to wear something checked to work and help fundraise for the Donna Annand Melanoma Charity so that they can spread the word about the importance of keeping an eye on your skin.

The charity was set up four years ago to educate people of the dangers of malignant melanoma following the death of Jersey woman Donna Annand who died from the disease aged 29.

Kerry Petulla said: "1st May would have been Donna's 34th Birthday and it is lovely to think that we will be taking Donna's legacy to another level that day and establishing an annual day in the diary, dedicated to raising awareness of Malignant Melanoma. We hope more people will become familiar with checking their moles and more familiar with the charity."

Malignant Melanoma is a form of skin cancer, which affects the pigment producing cells (Malanocytes) and often appears as a new or changing mole.

Changes in character, size, shape and colour are all signs of the disease that is one of the most common forms of cancer in young adults aged between 25 and 29.

But youngsters will also be getting a head start on "Melanoma Check Day" - a team from the charity will be popping along to Sunnyside Nursery to teach the children there about the importance of looking after their skin.

The charity is also flying in a UK specialist later this month for its next free mole clinic on Sunday 17 May and you can find out more about it here. 

Click here to visit our new charity section for more information on The Donna Annand Melanoma Charity, and other local charities.