FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Berry Edwards
Lisa.Edwards@preventcancer.org
Alexandria, Va. – To encourage everyone to take small steps for sun safety, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has partnered with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and its broad coalition of member organizations to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as the 13th annual “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin by taking ‘small steps to sun safety’ while enjoying the outdoors.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the nation, with almost 5.5 million cases diagnosed in Americans each year – more than breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers combined. In fact, 1 out of every 5 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.
“Don’t Fry Day is the perfect way to jump start the summer holiday,” says Prevent Cancer Foundation Founder and CEO Carolyn R. (“Bo”) Aldigé. “We are proud to partner with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and the other esteemed coalition members to get this lifesaving message front and center.”
Skin cancer is highly preventable. Over 90% of all skin cancer is caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or indoor tanning devices. Americans can dramatically reduce their risk of skin cancer by:
- Not burning or tanning intentionally – no tan is a safe tan
- Generously applying sunscreen (remembering to reapply every two hours)
- Wearing sun-protective clothing
- Seeking shade during peak times of the day
- Using extra caution near water, snow and sand
About Don’t Fry Day
“Don’t Fry Day,” now in its thirteenth year, is a public awareness campaign that aims to reduce the number of new skin cancer diagnoses by promoting sun safety and encouraging people to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. Learn more at skincancerprevention.org/get-involved/dont-fry-day/. National Council members represent the nation’s premiere physicians, researchers, clinicians and advocates for skin cancer prevention. Learn more at skincancerprevention.org.
About the Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is celebrating 35 years as the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection. Through research, education, outreach and advocacy, we have helped countless people avoid a cancer diagnosis or detect their cancer early enough to be successfully treated.
The Foundation is rising to meet the challenge of reducing cancer deaths by 40% by 2035. To achieve this, we are committed to investing $20 million for innovative technologies to detect cancer early and advance multi-cancer screening, $10 million to expand cancer screening and vaccination access to medically underserved communities, and $10 million to educate the public about screening and vaccination options.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
