A regional skin cancer awareness campaign this summer was hailed a “huge success” by organisers.
The Algarve Oncologic Association in Faro (AOA), responsible for the campaign, said information in Portuguese, English, Spanish and German about how to protect against skin cancer reached more than 100,000 beachgoers at 13 different beaches across the region.
An AOA spokesman said: “Our volunteers delivered thousands of sun cream samples and leaflets in several languages informing people about the importance of applying sun lotion according to their skin type, wearing appropriate clothing when in the sun and seeking shade during peak sun hours, especially children under the age of three.”
The cancer association counted on the support of several Câmaras, who helped it set up information points to aid the campaign, which was held from east to west throughout the summer, having ended on August 30.
The Walk under the sun… event was the highlight of the campaign with 1,500 participants wishing to support it by walking along the Quarteira walkway and receiving free skin cancer screening by sponsors Avène Laboratory. Skin cancer affects 10,000 people every year in Portugal, with 1,000 suffering from melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
“Both Portuguese and foreign people were very grateful for the information we provided and promised to be careful in the sun,” said the AOA spokesman.
To learn more about skin cancer, please contact the AOA on 289 807 531
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