Sussex girl gets creative in the fight against skin cancer
UV-reactive bracelets that tell you when the sun is burning your skin
Rosie Sullivan, an 11-year-old girl from West Sussex, has created bracelets that can help in the fight against skin cancer.
These beads change colour when UV rays hit them and are strong enough to cause sunburn. The inspiration for such a smart idea came following her uncle’s experience with melanoma.
What is melanoma?
The deadliest form of skin cancer. Not only this but it is the hardest to detect. If identified early then it is almost 100% curable, and this is why it is so important to know how to detect it. The NHS educates us about the main cause of melanoma being ultraviolet light. This comes from the sun or the use of sunbeds. Even if being tanned is the hot thing right now, don’t risk your life doing it.
If identified early then it is almost 100% curable
Protection against the sun for adolescents and children is so important. It doesn’t have to be caused by sunburn; melanoma can occur from too much skin exposure over time. Applying sun cream can be such a quick and easy part of your daily routine.
Signs and signals
Melanoma is so easily preventable. Catch it early and you can save yourself from the horrible experience so many people have to face.
Check out the Melanoma Fund page for all the signs and signals you need to look out for. Here’s are some examples: growth of a new or existing mole, if the mole has an irregular outline and if the mole becomes overly sensitive, either itchy or painful.
You may not realise these changes in a matter of days, it may take weeks or months. Getting mole screenings is a great way to keep on top of changes that may be happening to your skin. You can track and assess the sizes, shapes and appearances of new moles.
Rosie’s story
(Image: From Rosie)
Together, with her two sisters, the conversation about what they could do to raise money came about. However, it was Rosie who was the one who flew with it. Rosie was inspired by her uncle Steve’s experience with melanoma several times. His first diagnosis was in 2010 and the second in 2017. For a girl of such a young age, this would have been so hard and scary to see.
“Melanoma runs in my family and in most cases is preventable, so I want to do all I can to educate others. This should make everyone want to protect themselves and their families against this disease.”
As of today, Rosie has raised £1,146. Rosie is only 11 years old and had never made bracelets before. Her creative side came out, as well as her passion and dedication to making her idea come to life. You should feel inspired to help yourself and everyone you know.
Each year she is improving her designs to become more accurate. She has really excelled this year, using different designs with a charm bead, giving the bracelets some flare. Each bracelet consists of a charm, eight coloured beads, 24 little clay beads, and most importantly 12 UV colour changing beads. It takes Rosie around an hour and a half to create 8-10 bracelets.
These bracelets are the perfect reminder to protect your skin. All proceeds are going towards the Melanoma Fund. You can buy one of these bracelets to help do your bit in the fight against skin cancer.
(Image: From Rosie)
Educate yourself
Despite May being Melanoma Awareness Month, now more than ever is when you should be educating yourself. Everyone should understand the dangers of the sun. There are lots of pages containing free and very valuable information on the Melanoma Fund page.
Not only should you be educating yourself for your own benefit, but the benefit of your kids or your parents. Melanoma doesn’t discriminate against any age, race or gender. Everyone is at risk, to a greater or lesser degree. Help the fight against skin cancer.
Supporting the cause
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and is one of the fasting rising cancers. If there are ways we can reduce these statistics, then we should.
To support the cause, go to the Melanoma Fund website and click on news/blogs. From there, click on Rosie’s story and you can purchase them. Alternatively, go to her just giving page and email Melanomafund with your request for the bracelets you would like.
