Sunsmart Turtle goes Surfing!

Sunsmart Turtle goes Surfing!

Children under ten in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty will get a helping hand to be Sunsmart this summer with the launch of a new interactive web site. Undercover Cody, the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Division of the Cancer Society's Sunsmart turtle, has launched his own site www.undercovercody.co.nz with games and prizes to encourage children, parents and schools to be sun safe.

Health promoters will also provide around 73,000 school children with Undercover Cody resources, including a Sunsmart hip-hop CD, written and recorded by local Hamilton talent.

Skin cancers make up three-quarters of all new cancer cases each year making it the most common cancer affecting New Zealanders. The major cause, over exposure to the sun during childhood and adolescence, can be easily avoided says Hamilton health promoter Andrea Duncan/Rotorua health promoter Yvonne Skellern/Tauranga health promoter Maree Achilles.

"Skin cancer is preventable so we want to make sure kids learn the Slip Slop Slap and Wrap message and the best way to do this is through something appealing and educational - like the cool hip hop CD and fun-filled web site."

Undercover Cody was created by the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Division of the Cancer Society to establish Sunsmart behaviour during children's formative years.

"We know that melanoma is the most common form of cancer in the 20 to 40 year age group so it is vital that children get into the habit of being Sunsmart early on."

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