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SHELTON, Conn. — Energizer Personal Care’s Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen brands have teamed up with The Skin Cancer Foundation public awareness campaign featuring Los Angeles Galaxy and Team USA soccer star Landon Donovan.
Energizer said Thursday the initiative is the second part of a two-year effort aimed at encouraging men to incorporate sun protection into their daily lives.
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Soccer pro Landon Donovan is featured in the print ad as a visual example of what not to do when it comes to proper sun care. |
The campaign includes print, digital and television advertising plus an interactive website and a sweepstakes. Donovan is featured in the print ad as a visual example of what not to do when it comes to practicing proper sun care. He is also featured in a video and on the campaign website providing sun safety tips.
The effort advises men to adopt a sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade, covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, and wearing sunscreen every day.
"Skin cancer is an important issue to me, as my father was diagnosed with skin cancer, but thankfully it was caught early and he is doing great today," Donovan said in a statement. "There is a misperception that sunscreen and other sun protection measures should only be used at the beach. Whether you’re spending time outdoors playing soccer, enjoying a round of golf or mowing the lawn, protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays is essential."
Consumers can visit SunBlunders.com to learn the facts about skin cancer, sun exposure and the importance of sun protection. Those visiting the website and taking the "sun smarts" quiz are automatically entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a three-night guys’ getaway trip to Key West, Fla., for three. The trip includes the winner’s choice of a deep-sea fishing excursion or a day of golf.
"Education is essential to increase protection from the sun’s harmful effects, which is why we have partnered with Landon Donovan and The Skin Cancer Foundation to raise awareness of this important issue," stated Minna Raffin, director of the Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic brand sunscreens. "This campaign simplifies the sun protection message and encourages men and the women in their lives to be safe in the sun, no matter where they are."
The campaign’s focus on sun protection for men stems from a survey issued by The Skin Cancer Foundation and Energizer Personal Care last spring that revealed a dramatic gender divide in sun protection and skin cancer awareness. Of the men polled, 49% admitted to not using sunscreen in the past 12 months, and 70% didn’t know the warning signs of skin cancer.
"We know that men are not incorporating sun protection into their lives the way that they should and as a result the number of skin cancer cases among men continues to rise," noted Perry Robins, M.D., president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "This campaign is one of the many ways The Skin Cancer Foundation is actively working to better reach men with sun protection messages. We are pleased to work with Energizer Personal Care and Landon Donovan on this endeavor, and we know that together we can inspire men to adopt these potentially lifesaving behaviors."
Energizer Personal Care is also a supporting sponsor of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by Rite Aid. In the tour, now in its sixth year, local volunteer dermatologists provide free, full-body skin cancer screenings to participants in a 38-ft RV customized with two exam rooms. The vehicle will travel to more than 50 Rite Aid stores across the country this summer.
