Ban The Burn
As part of our community education initiative,
the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults educates high school
students about the importance of protecting themselves from
harmful sun rays. We provide health teachers with a Ban the
Burn handbook complete with transparencies, handouts, a lesson
plan, and a video. Through our program, students learn the
basics of skin cancer, sun exposure, risk factors, and prevention.
Each Ban the Burn kit contains a video featuring
UCF’s president and founder Doug Ulman. A two time melanoma
survivor, Doug speaks of his own experience as a young adult
with skin cancer. His story enables students overcome any
false senses of invincibility to proactively protect themselves
from sun exposure. This, in turn, fosters student discussion
of personal stories, opinions, and views on such topics as
tanning and societal influence. Students compare their perceptions
of sun rays and skin cancer before watching Doug’s video
with their new perspective gained from listening to Doug’s
experience with melanoma.
Additionally, students gain an understanding
of the types of sun rays, the biology of skin, and how sun
damage occurs. Our student guide and transparencies present
this information in a direct and easy to understand manner.
With the knowledge of the what and how of skin cancer, students
appreciate the critical need for protection. The mystery unravels
and the dangers associated with sun exposure become clear.
By combining our educational resources
with those of schools, we reach the broadest possible young
adult audience in our community, furnishing students with
tools to help fight skin cancer. These individuals will not
only practice effective protection and prevention, but also
share their learning with family and friends, widening the
circle of knowledge and strengthening the fight against skin
cancer.