The PGA Tour and The Skin Cancer Foundation
“…men over 50 are more than twice as likely as women to develop and die from Melanoma.”
The Skin Cancer Foundation and The PGA TOUR are joining forces to bring potentially life-saving skin cancer information to those who spend hours on the golf course, in direct contact with harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. The PGA TOUR adopted skin cancer awareness as a charitable focus through the Together, anything’s possible℠ platform, and the two organizations are working together in a variety of ways to enlighten men to the dangers of the world’s most common cancer, now occurring at epidemic levels.
Elements of the initiative include multiple features on PGATOUR.com, where site visitors can learn more about The Skin Cancer Foundation and get tips for staying sun-safe on the golf course. Visitors can click through to SkinCancer.org, where they will find thorough sun protection and skin cancer information specific to golf, in addition to 600 pages of medically-reviewed prevention, early detection and treatment content geared toward the general public. Additionally, the PGA TOUR has armed their commentators with sun protection messaging to factor into their remarks throughout the month of May.
The two organizations have also collaborated on an informational video featuring some of the world’s most famous professional golfers, including Brian Davis, Luke Donald, Robert Garrigus, Rory Mcllroy, Rory Sabbatini and Adam Scott. In the video, the golfers talk about the importance of sun protection on the golf course, and encourage viewers to cover up with clothing, (SanSoleil’s New Men’s Collection,) wear wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses, and use sunscreen. The video is available for viewing on PGATOUR.COM/Together and SkinCancer.org/golf.
“Skin cancer is highly preventable and primarily a lifestyle disease, so the Foundation places high value on spreading awareness,” said Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Both playing and watching golf entail a lot of time spent in direct sunlight, so it’s important that players and enthusiasts incorporate sun protection into their lives on and off the course. Joining forces with the PGA TOUR to raise awareness within the golf community is a natural fit, and we are proud to partake in this initiative.”
”Being that so many of our athletes are aware of the need for protection from the sun’s harmful rays, and because so many of them make sun protection a part of their everyday routines, this is a great way to use the PGA TOUR platform to spread the message of skin cancer awareness,” said Ty Votaw, the PGA TOUR’s Chief Global Communications Officer. Each year, an alarming two million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer. More than 45,000 new cases of invasive melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) will be diagnosed in men this year alone. Men over age 40 have the highest annual exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, a leading cause of skin cancer; men over 50 are more than twice as likely as women to develop and die from the disease. “We’re trying to raise awareness about the harm the sun’s UV rays can do if you’re not properly protecting yourself,” Davis says in the video. “Whether you’re an avid golfer or a weekend hacker, whether you’re a golf junkie or new to the sport, we want to make sure you’re armed with the facts.”