A Call for Entries

The summer heat is on, and that means a need for increased awareness for the world’s most common cancer—skin cancer.

While riding on the coat tails of her recently released book ONLY SKIN DEEP? An Essential Guide to Effective Skin Cancer Programs and Resources, author and co-founder of The Cancer Crusaders Organization, Danielle M. White, invites all budding writers to participate in an essay contest for Skin Cancer Awareness.

“Skin cancer incidence in the U.S., and across the globe, continues to rise at an alarming rate,” White says. “In fact, melanoma is killing more women ages 20-39 than any other cancer. Yet, this disease is preventable!” White continues, “In our on-going effort to raise awareness and educate people—especially young adults—about skin cancer, we thought an essay contest would be a great way to generate interest and participation, as well as provide further educational opportunities to our communities.”

White, who is currently working on a revision of her original peer education program which made its official debut last summer, and has piqued the interest of the American Academy of Dermatology, is planning to feature at least one of the winning essays in her next book – Preventing the Most Preventable Cancer, which will feature the peer education program, is due out early 2008.

“Part of finding effective ways of teaching young adults about skin cancer, and recruiting their participating in awareness efforts, is reaching out to them and finding out what interests them most,” White says. “How can we effectively teach a 15-year-old or a 25-year-old if we don’t know what they know? Not only will this essay contest be a great tool for community outreach, but it will give us all here at The Cancer Crusaders Organization insight into the unique and specific educational needs of this target public. In turn, we can better serve them.” White adds that occasionally dermatologists, though they are the experts in skin cancer prevention, forget what youth want and need to know about skin cancer. “That is my job as a skin cancer educator; to be the bridge between the dermatologists and the communities and find out how to teach young adults in a way that is meaningful to them; to personalize the message and bring it close to home,” she says.

And part of bringing that message close to home is hosting an essay contest.

“We encourage everyone to participate, particularly the 15 to 30-year-olds,” says White. “We are looking for essays that discuss issues related to the increased popularity of tanning in our culture and how that has contributed to rising skin cancer incidence over the last century. We are also looking for essays that will provide possible solutions for increasing awareness and improving skin cancer prevention education.”

To participate in the Preventing the Most Preventable Cancer essay contest, please follow the rules and guidelines as follows:

• Essay must be original work (no previously published essays, please). Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will disqualify your entry.
• Essay should be in MLA format, complete a Works Cited, proper citations, and a cover sheet.
• Essay should not exceed 1,000 words in length (maximum) and should be at least 500 words (minimum).
• No offensive language or potentially libelous information will be accepted.
• Good grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Writers should properly employ the rules of technical writing.
• Please include your first and last name, age, hometown, school (if appropriate), and email in the top right-hand corner of the first page. (Please be sure to include your mailing address when submitting your essay).
• Please submit your essay, and your $15.00 tax-deductible entry fee by September 7, 2007 to the following:
The Cancer Crusaders Organization
P.O. Box 2076 Provo, Utah 84603

The Cancer Crusaders Organization will choose three winning essays; one from each of the following age groups: 15-19, 20-30, and 31+. The winners will receive Skin Cancer Awareness merchandise, a bottle of Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, and a complimentary copy of White’s recent book – ONLY SKIN DEEP? An Essential Guide to Effective Skin Cancer Programs and Resources now available online through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The first place winner will also receive a cash scholarship, and their essay will be featured in White’s next book.

For more information and/or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact The Cancer Crusaders Organization.


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PS: Check out what a registered nurse had to say about the essay contest.