Skin cancer campaign returns in memory of presenter
BBCA campaign to raise awareness about the risks of skin cancer is returning in memory of a BBC Radio Derby presenter who died 10 years ago.
Before his death from melanoma skin cancer on 25 April 2015, Colin Bloomfield, 33, spearheaded the initial project, with help from the Nottinghamshire-based charity Skcin, to try to prevent similar cases.
It directly inspired 479 people to get their skin checked out by experts, more than 100 of whom were urged to go for further tests.
Now, as part of the Colin Bloomfield Sun Safe Campaign, a number of skin checking sessions with dermatologists are being arranged by BBC Radio Derby, while Skcin is urging schools to register for its Sun Safe programme.
The number of people being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in the UK is increasing, according to Cancer Research UK.
There are also non-melanoma skin cancers, which are generally more common and usually less serious than melanoma.
Cancer Research UK says common symptoms of skin cancer include a sore or area of skin that:
- does not heal within four weeks;
- looks unusual;
- hurts, is itchy, bleeds, or scabs over.
Marie Tudor, chief executive officer of Skcin, said: "There are 250,000 cases of skin cancer a year and 17,000 of melanoma - which is the most deadly form that took Colin's life.
"So it is a problem, it's not going to go away and we know one significant sunburn in adolescence doubles a person's chance of getting melanoma."
BBC Radio Derby and Skcin raised more than £150,000 in 2015 through the Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal and helped 100 schools to register as Sun Safe with teaching materials and suncream dispensers for classrooms.
Jo Halsey, co-head teacher of Netherseal St Peter's Primary in Swadlincote, said: "We do revisit it annually and do a sun safe day which we usually do later in the year, but to mark Colin's anniversary we've done it this week."
Mr Bloomfield was well loved by the fans of Derby County as he commentated on the Rams.
On 18 April, his mum Alison was a special guest at Pride Park, before the home Championship fixture versus Luton Town, to see a tribute paid to him ahead of the anniversary of his death.
Alison said: "[Colin] once said to me - 'Mum, I want to be remembered, not for that guy who died of melanoma, but because I was a presenter - and a good one at that'.
"Lots of people know more about melanoma now than ever before and we have to thank Radio Derby and Skcin for that, for putting the word around about how dreadful a disease melanoma is."
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