Skin cancer sufferer launches sun cream scheme

A campaigner living with skin cancer has helped launch a scheme offering free sun cream in shops, cafes and pubs.

The Sun Safe project has been introduced across Crookes in Sheffield, where dispensers will be available throughout August as part of a wider campaign to promote sun safety and raise awareness of skin cancer.

Organisers said they hoped to expand it to other parts of the city next year.

Charlotte Killeya, who has stage four melanoma, said: "Sun cream is not a luxury. It's an essential product. It should be as normal as brushing your teeth."

Killeya, who first discovered melanoma on her shoulder six years ago, said she believed her cancer may have been connected to a time her shoulders got sunburned at the beach as a child.

She urged Sheffield City Council to improve access to sun protection after sharing her story at a full council meeting in 2024.

She said the project was designed to improve awareness of the dangers of sun damage as well as provide free sun cream.

"There are quite a significant proportion of people in Sheffield who cannot afford sun cream," she said.

Killeya said misinformation about sun safety remained a concern and warned that even cloudy weather could be dangerous.

"I got one of my worst sunburns on a cloudy day in Wales," she said.

According to Melanoma Focus, almost nine in 10 cases of melanoma can be prevented through sun protection and avoiding sunbeds.

Killeya said attitudes towards tanning also needed to change.

"Being pale is not seen as being particularly beautiful, but I think we've got to change perceptions of what is beautiful," she said.

She said skin cancer could often be treated successfully if caught early.

"Mine, unfortunately, hasn't been, because it's spread to my lungs, my brain and my neck," she said.

"It's about knowing your skin and, if you see anything unusual, going to your GP."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the project was organised by Crookes resident Vanessa Senger, with funding from the Crookes and Crosspool ward budget.

Senger said rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves highlighted the need for greater awareness.

"We have earlier springs, and the sun is more intense earlier in the year," she said.

Councillor Ruth Milsom said it had taken only weeks from the idea being proposed to sun cream being made available across Crookes.

"Decision-making can be slow in the council, it's a great illustration of how fast you can get things done," she said.

Killeya added: "I'm so grateful to the team. It's this local action that makes a difference."

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