It was an action packed Wednesday for the Newcastle Jets Hyundai A-League squad today.
With a massive FFA Cup Quarter Final on the horizon, a double session saw the boys on the paddock in the morning and in the gym in the afternoon.
In the middle though was a skin check with the Hunter Melanoma Foundation.
Melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australian men and accounts for about 12% of all new cancers diagnosed. 1 in 14 men, and 1 in 24 women, will be diagnosed with a melanoma at some point in their lives.
It’s a cancer most common for people aged 15-39 – a bracket into which the entire Hyundai A-League squad fall.
“I think we take it for granted, going and getting our skin checked, but working outside everyday we need to make sure we’re protected,” Jets captain, Nigel Boogaard said.
“I definitely recommend for anyone that works outdoors, or someone that is quite active and is outdoors a lot, it’s important to go and get yourself checked.
“It might not be in an area that you think is relevant, but you’d be surprised. It’s always good to have that piece of mind.”
Hunter Melanoma Foundation Executive Director, Claudia Tolhurst, congratulated the boys in being proactive in the lead-up to the summer competition.
“Playing sport and enjoying an outdoor lifestyle is part of our country’s culture. Even if you are applying sunscreen, extended periods in the sun increases the risk of melanoma, making it important to make skin checks part of your regular health care routine,” Tolhurst said.
“Sun safe practices are the best way to prevent melanoma. Skin checks, at home and importantly, by professionals, are critical as early detection and treatment of melanoma.”
For more information, click here to visit the Hunter Melanoma Foundation website.
