JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

August 2003

DEDICATION OF JEEP TO JSPCA ANIMALS’ SHELTER

The JSPCA Animals' Shelter is very pleased to announce the dedication of a Suzuki Vitara jeep to the Shelter by Sarah Naidu, who loved animals and was a great supporter of the Shelter and its work for animal care and welfare.

Sarah helped at the JSPCA Animals' Shelter for many years before her devastating death from malignant melanoma.  In the UK each year about 6,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, which is an aggressive skin cancer triggered by exposure to sunlight.  Although not one of the very commonest cancers, melanoma is important because it can be curable if detected early.  Many cases could be prevented if more care was taken when exposing our skin to the sun and if we are more watchful for the signs that a melanoma might be beginning to develop.  You should go to your doctor immediately if you have a mole that is:

• getting bigger

• changing shape, especially in an irregular manner

• changing colour (becoming darker, patchy or multishaded)

• itchy or painful

• bleeding or becoming crusty

• inflamed

For further details about malignant melanoma or cancer, visit the Website www.cancerhelp.org.uk which has been produced by Cancer Research UK.  

The jeep will be an enormous help in enabling the JSPCA Animals' Shelter Education Officers to visit centres in the community, teach people about the work of the JSPCA Animals' Shelter and in helping to promote animal care and welfare.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

• Cancer Research UK has a very informative Website www.cancerhelp.org.uk that offers a free information service about cancer and cancer care for people with cancer and their families.