May 12, 2015
CATCH Global Foundation, in conjunction with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has trained the first round of trainers to implement Ray and the Sunbeatables™: A Sun Safety Curriculum for Preschoolers.
Eleven trainers gathered in Austin, TX last week for two days to learn the curriculum in preparation to head home and teach others in their communities how to implement the sun safety program developed by MD Anderson. CATCH trainers Peter Cribb and Joey Walker led the group in a training that included teacher videos, sun safety activities, and role modeling.
“We were very happy with the result of this week’s training,” said CATCH Program Director Peter Cribb. “The teachers were very enthusiastic and excited to bring the information back home to share with their communities.”
Many of the teachers and administrators who attended the training expressed surprise at the incidence of melanoma in the population, and information on the severity of UV rays during peak sun hours (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM).
“Sunburn during childhood is a major risk factor for melanoma, so it is important for children to develop sun safety habits in early childhood,” said Payal Pandit Talati, Program Manager with MD Anderson.
Attendees left energized to fight skin cancer and improve sun protection in their home towns. The Sunbeatables™ curriculum will reach approximately 2000 children in over 100 classrooms this summer.
“The training not only gave me experience, but also confidence to go out and share information [on sun safety],” explained one of the participants. “It was fun and informative. I’m excited to bring it back home!”
The participants, who came from as far as Minneapolis, MN to attend the training session, left with Sunbeatables™ program materials and a sample of sunscreen courtesy of Blue Lizard©, CATCH Global Foundation’s official sunscreen partner. Our second training is taking place this week in Houston, TX, with a new group of participants from across the country.
EN 
ES 
ES_CO 
SW 
HI