Sunday 17 July 2016


Press Release 18 July 2016

Skcin Welcome Kylie Pentelow as Charity Patron


Skcin are delighted to announce the appointment of ITV’s Kylie Pentelow as a Patron of the charity as she embarks on her mission to help Skcin raise awareness following the death of her beloved father last year to a rare form of skin cancer.

Kylie, whose first job in journalism was as a reporter with The Bath Chronicle and who has also worked for the BBC, is now the co-anchor for ITV News West Country and presents the ITV national news at the weekend.

Today (Monday 18th July) her first programme in a series of documentaries called ‘Under The Skin’ will be aired as part of ITV News West Country on ITV at 6pm.  This forms part of her commitment to raising awareness of skin cancer as she makes a stand against the disease.

In August 2013 Kylie’s father David Pentelow discovered a tiny lump on his lower left arm. Doctors removed the lump and it was sent off to be analysed, within weeks his was told the lump was cancerous.By December Kylie’s family were told the heart-breaking news that the lump was a very rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel Cell Carcinoma.A precautionary scan some months later revealed it had spread to his lymph glands.

Despite David’s huge positivity throughout his journey, the following 10 months were hard. Swelling, infection, a considerable amount of pain and two types of chemotherapy took it’s toll on David and his family who watched as this proud man and devoted father and husband came to terms with the devastating news that there was nothing more that could be done.When treatment ended, he died just six weeks later aged 68 - two days after Kylie’s birthday, one day after her mum's birthday - his beloved wife of 48 years, Marion.

Kylie said “My dad was my best friend, and I spoke to him every day. He knew everything about my life. The hardest thing was when he was too poorly to speak on the phone. I knew how much I’d miss him before he died. People say about relatives that ‘they miss them every day.’ I miss my dad every hour”.

Now 37-year-old Kylie has become patron of a national skin cancer awareness charity Skcin and is presenting a new series on the condition for ITV, starting Monday 18th July. The series she has made has involved harrowing conversations with other people facing the final stages of cancer treatment.

“ People have said it must be awful to be doing all this, but I had no choice. I am in a lucky position as a journalist and if one person watches my series and thinks ‘I will be careful’ and protects themselves or their children, then that would be amazing.”

Kylie, who has two brothers and a sister, was particularly struck by one statistic: if you get sunburnt as a child, you are 80 per cent more likely to develop skin cancer.

She now wants to go into schools as patron of Skcin to encourage schools to register with the charity’s ‘Sun Safe Schools’ national accreditation scheme and spread the safety message.

“I'm so delighted to be working with Skcin. The charities approach - particularly with the education of children and young people - is key to fighting skin cancer.

When my father died a year ago, I knew I wanted to do something to spread the word of how horrid skin cancer is. So many people in this country are suffering now, and now is the time we need to make a difference. All I can hope for is that one person reads this or hears of the great work of Skcin and starts using sunscreen, or stops using sunbeds."

Kathryn Clifford from the charity was delighted to welcome Kylie as a patron.
“Losing a loved one to cancer is an incredibly painful journey and for some it sparks a genuine desire to make a stand against this devastating disease and prevent others from the same suffering.

Kylie is in a unique position - her journalistic skills and national recognition can really help drive awareness and Skcin are proud to be working with such a dynamic and driven individual who shares our objectives. Her father would of course, be hugely proud of her bravery, effort and passion.”

Kylie’s work has spanned all areas of journalism – from breaking news to celebrity interviews, from studio presenting to live broadcasts. Skcin look forward to working with Kylie to raise awareness, promote the prevention and early detection of skin cancer and help reverse the soaring statistics of this devastating disease.

“It’s very hard to link something like sunbathing which we associate with feeling positive with this terrible illness” says Kylie. “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, but I hope that if they know why I’m saying these things, I might be able to make a difference.”

You can see more, including a video about Kylie's father at itv.com/westcountry.



Monday 11 July 2016

Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery Completes Step 2 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Shade

Congratulations to Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery for providing shaded areas for their pupils.

Shaded Area photo submitted by Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery

“We have two permanent shaded areas for our children and set up termporary shades using sheets and tarpaulins for a bit of fun and extra sun protection”

(Sharon Lucas - Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery)

Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school Completes Step 2 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Shade

Congratulations to Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school for providing shaded areas for their pupils.

Shaded Area photo submitted by Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school

“We have lots of areas for shade while playing outside including a purposefully installed sun canopy over our patio”

(Nicola Hills - Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school)

Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school Completes Step 1 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Sun Hats, Sunscreen & Role Models

Congratulations to Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school for issuing Sun Safety Fact Sheets to all their pupils. Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school has also pledged to keep sun hats and sunscreen available for all their children and to act as role models with regard to sun safety:

“We have sent letters to all our current parents and have inculded the letter for furture parents within our welcome pack. These will be stored within personal fiels in the filing cupboard”

(Nicola Hills - Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school)

“As a setting we ensure the children are provided with appropriate clothing and suncream either by the setting or parents. we strive to inform parents of the importance of sun protection and always ensure children are suitibly protected from UVA and UVB”

(Nicola Hills - Towers Tiny Tots Pre-school)

Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery Completes Step 1 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Sun Hats, Sunscreen & Role Models

Congratulations to Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery for issuing Sun Safety Fact Sheets to all their pupils. Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery has also pledged to keep sun hats and sunscreen available for all their children and to act as role models with regard to sun safety:

“All letters sent out to parents and carers, we will log and keep all returned slips from parents and carers, making a register we can refer to.”

(Sharon Lucas - Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery)

“We already have spare hats and suncreen even though we have asked parents/carers to bring in their own for their children. No child goes outside this time of year without appropriate hat and sunscreen. Our sunscreen is a high factor and has a four star rating.”

(Sharon Lucas - Hythe Bay Children Centre Nursery)

BAE Systems/Ridsdale Range Completes Step 3 towards becoming a Sun Safe Workplace - Training Employees about Solar UVR

Congratulations to BAE Systems/Ridsdale Range for training employees about solarUVR, the prevention and early detection of skin cancer and how to work safely in the sun.

“employees were given 3 wellbeing presentations, one being the sunsafe presentation. Employees found it informative and during the discussion afterwards attitudes had changed with regards to wearing sunblock and looking after themselves during sunny periods.”

(Matthew Crofton - BAE Systems/Ridsdale Range)

Kingfisher Nursery Completes Step 3 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Teaching Resources & Activities

Congratulations to Kingfisher Nursery for reading George the Sun Safe Superstar to all their children and introducing everyone to the ‘Slip, Slap, Slop song’.Kingfisher Nursery have also pledged to continue to regularly use the resources provided to reinforce the sun safe message to their children.

“Although some of the children found the story a little long (we have children between the ages of two and four years) some were able to understand what George had done. All the children love the Slip Slop Slap song with many parents and carers telling us their children sing it at home - and that was in the first week of learning it!”

(Lorraine Sluggett - Kingfisher Nursery)

“Here at Kingfisher Nursery, Boyton, we have all benefitted from making the extra effort to register with Sun Safe Nurseries. It has made us all more aware of the dangers of the sun, even when it is cloudy. I have now completed all three steps to become a Sun Safe Nursery and pledge we will continue to regularly use the resources provided in order to reinforce the sun safe message to all our children. ”

(Lorraine Sluggett - Kingfisher Nursery)

Kingfisher Nursery Completes Step 2 towards becoming a Sun Safe Nursery - Shade

Congratulations to Kingfisher Nursery for providing shaded areas for their pupils.

Shaded Area photo submitted by Kingfisher Nursery

“The outside area is shaded in part with some old beech trees; although quite tall they provide shade over the majority of the outside area. In another area we have made shelters with the children using old curtains and netting. ”

(Lorraine Sluggett - Kingfisher Nursery)

Friday 8 July 2016

RATHMELL PRIMARY is now an Official Sun Safe School!

Congratulations to RATHMELL PRIMARY for obtaining their Sun Safe School Status & Award

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(NICOLA DEVEREUX - RATHMELL PRIMARY)