Son’s cancer death inspires sun cream campaign

A mother who lost her son to skin cancer is campaigning for more free sun cream to be distributed at outdoor venues.

Sharon Scrivens, from Cirencester, lost her 24-year-old son Ashley to malignant melanoma in 2014 and has since campaigned to raise awareness of the disease and for organisations to provide sun protection.

She has successfully had sun cream dispensers installed at local sports clubs and Cirencester's outdoor swimming pool, but wants more to be provided as extreme hot weather becomes more common.

"People think you're just protecting people from sunburn, they don't realise that that sunburn is what can contribute to getting skin cancer," she said.

Sharon describes Ashley as "a gentle giant" that "loved sport".

At 21, Ashley found what appeared to be a small mole on his back which turned out to be an aggressive form of skin cancer:

"It started as a very tiny little mole on his back that just changed slightly," Sharon said.

"He went to the GP and was later told by a dermatologist that it was malignant melanoma stage 2B. He was told that it would be the hardest fight of his life for the next five years because at the time it was quite hard to treat."

Ashley underwent treatment and went into remission after having large parts of the growth removed.

"For a tiny little mole they had to dig in very deep because melanoma goes right through the layers of the skin," Sharon said.

"They got everything out but that wasn't the end of it.”

Ashley was regularly checked for the disease and was said to have been doing well until May 2014 when he started to feel unwell.

He was told that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and later to his lungs.

Ashley passed away in 2014, three years after his skin cancer diagnosis.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are more than 19,000 cases of melanoma skin cancer every year.

Of these, more than 92% of people now survive at least another 10 years, but around 86% of cases are preventable with lifestyle changes, such as limiting exposure to UV rays.

"The thing that gets me is that even back then we didn't really have sun awareness, we thought it was great to go in the sun and get a tan," Sharon said.

"At times I feel bad about that, even though Ashley really wasn't a sun worshipper.”

Since Ashley's death, Sharon and her husband have campaigned to get more free sun cream dispensers made available around Cirencester. She also makes wrist bands that alert children when UV levels increase.

"Its vital to get the word out and tell people why we have to protect our bodies and why parents need to protect their children," Sharon said.

"Skin cancer is one of those cancers where you can help yourself, you can help protect your body.

"Your skin is the largest organ you have and it needs protecting."

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.