League legend and Suncorp SunWise Ambassador Shane Webcke was in Maroochydore this morning to present a lucky group of local clubs with enough free sunscreen to last the next 12 months.

The 12 Sunshine Coast clubs are among 100 groups selected to benefit from a new program called Project Protect funded by leading corporate skin cancer awareness campaigner Suncorp.

The initiative builds on the highly successful free sunscreen program Suncorp runs on Sunshine Coast beaches.
Suncorp has been working in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council since 2005 to raise community awareness about the harmful effects of the sun and the importance of protection through the provision of free sunscreen.

Rugby league legend and Suncorp SunWise Ambassador Shane Webcke said Project Protect expanded these great sun protection programs.

Mr Webcke said the sunscreen will encourage SunWise behaviour and help save lives.

"Queensland has the sad distinction of being not only the skin cancer capital of Australia, but also the world. An average of 210 Queenslanders die from skin cancer each year," he said.

"I'm a big supporter of programs like this because it's one thing to talk about the importance of sun-safety, but it's another thing to offer practical ways to help protect the community.

"Whether you're playing cricket in the summer or rugby in the winter it's important to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays. Cooler weather isn't an excuse to abandon the good sun safety habits we adopt over the warmer months.

"We need to make sun protection part of our way of life year round - it needs to be as routine as buckling up in the car when travelling or putting on a helmet when riding a bike."

Shane Webcke congratulated the winning Sunshine Coast clubs for taking steps to protect their members.
"There was a great response to Project Protect with more than 500 entries coming in from across Queensland," he said.

"I think this shows not only how seriously the community takes the threat of skin cancer but also the incredible need out there for financial support to provide protection through sunscreen."

Suncorp is distributing about 1200 litres of sunscreen to 100 clubs across Queensland which will provide head-to-toe protection for more than 34,000 club members.

Successful applicants on the Sunshine Coast were:
• Caboolture Netball Association
• Glasshouse Country Bowls Club
• Landsborough Cricket Club
• Caloundra Cricket Club
• Buderim Firebirds Netball Club
• Chancellor Park Soccer Club
• Maroochydore Tennis Club
• Nambour and Districts Netball Association
• Palmwoods Riding for the Disabled Association
• Eumundi Tennis Club
• Cooroy RSL and Citizens Memorial Bowls Club
• Tewantin Noosa Pony Club

The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) has found the average-sized adult needs about 35 millilitres of sunscreen to protect their body adequately.

QIMR suggests more than half a teaspoon should be applied to each arm, the face and neck and just over one teaspoon should be used on each leg and the front and back of the body.

Winning Project Protect clubs have also been given a wall-mounted sunscreen holder to provide easy access.

Media contact: Kathryn Stevens, Sequel Communications 3251 8145 or 0403 090 912