The Downer New Zealand Masters Games is helping
sport-loving Kiwis stay safe in the sun this summer through
an official partnership with Melanoma New
Zealand.
Melanoma New Zealand is the official charity
partner for the 2023 Games, and the only charity in NZ
solely dedicated to preventing avoidable deaths and
suffering caused by melanoma.
Games Manager Heather
Cox says the partnership is a natural fit for the Games,
aligning well with the Games vision of seeing more people
play longer.
“We want all our Games participants to
be safe while playing sports and relaxing at the Games
Village. We will be helping Melanoma New Zealand promote
their cause, and they will be offering free cancer spot
checks and advice from their Spot Check Van at the
Games.”
Melanoma New Zealand chief executive Andrea
Newland says the partnership with the Downer New Zealand
Masters Games is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness
among Masters athletes and their supporters.
“New
Zealand has the worst rate of melanoma in the world. Yet
most skin cancers are preventable, and if recognised and
treated early enough, melanoma is almost always
curable.
“Each year, more than 6000 people are
diagnosed with melanoma in New Zealand, and around 300
people will die from it, says Andrea Newland.
“Since
launching the Spot Check Van in 2021, Melanoma New Zealand
has seen more than 6500 people and found more than 900
suspicious skin lesions, including around 100 potential
melanomas referred on for clinical review. The chances of
developing skin cancer, including melanoma, increase with
age. Prevention and early detection are key, so it is
important to protect your skin from UV radiation and to
check skin regularly for any new or changing
spots.”
The 2023 Downer New Zealand Masters Games
will be held in Whanganui from 3 – 12 February. Early bird
registrations are now open until 11 December, with a special
‘local’ discount for Whanganui residents by entering the
promo code ‘LOCAL’ code when registering online at www.nzmg.com. Entry is open
to anyone 20 years and older, with 20 sports available to
people aged 20-30 years old.
Participants will be able
to get updates on where Melanoma New Zealand’s Spot Check
Van will be during the Games via the official Games app.
They can also donate to Melanoma New Zealand when they
register.
Melanoma New Zealand’s Awareness Week
campaign “Get Spotted” is this week from Tuesday 25
October to Monday 31 October. Visit www.melanoma.org.nz
for more
information.
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