Members of a Kent golf club have been offered discounted screening sessions to raise awareness of the risk of skin cancer in the sport.
Golfers and their families at Chart Hills Golf Club in Biddenden were screened by Natalie Fisher, Director of Community Dermatology at healthcare provider Portland Clinical, as the organisation looks to highlight the skincare risks associated with outdoor sports.
Golfers are at a higher risk of developing melanoma due to their increased exposure to the sun and the highly reflective surfaces on a golf course.
Anthony Tarchetti, General Manager at Chart Hills Golf Club, said the club is already looking at arranging another clinic after sessions were booked up in less than a week.
He said: “When I first heard about the services Portland Clinical provide, I knew I wanted to bring them in. From my days playing around the world, I know how important it is to be checked out – anyone who is regularly out in the sunshine should understand the importance of looking after their skin.
“A lot of the people who have signed up are young players, so it is great for them to learn from an early age about how to stay safe how quick and easy it is to be checked over. Golf clubs up and down the country should be doing the same.”
As well as screening members and their families, the Portland team also offered advice on the use of sunscreen as an essential preventative tool. Portland Clinical offers its skin screening services to both sports clubs and businesses across the country, having also worked with the likes of Middlesex County Cricket Club.
Natalie and her team use the latest “Dermicus” software thanks to Portland’s partnership with Melanoma UK, which sends images directly to the dermatologist for review.
Natalie added: “It is so important to regularly check yourself for any abnormal moles or lesions if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Screening yourself takes a matter of minutes and can be invaluable when it comes to getting an early diagnosis for anything untoward.
“We are so pleased to see Chart Hills recognise the importance of keeping safe in the sun and call on other clubs across the country to follow suit.”
Organisations looking to host a mobile clinic can find out more at www.portlandclinical.co.uk/skin.