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Campaigner wants free sun cream on beaches

Chris CraddockJersey communities reporter
News imageBBC Daisy is sitting on curved concrete seating steps outdoors in a coastal setting, facing the camera. She's wearing a dark short-sleeved dress and a wristwatch. Behind her are layered, rounded concrete structures leading toward a rocky shoreline. The sky is bright blue with scattered white clouds, and sunlight casts soft shadows across the textured concrete surfaces.BBC
Daisy Daly has campaigned to raise awareness about skin cancer after the death of her mum

A woman who has raised awareness about skin cancer has called for more sun protection and free sun cream to be made available on beaches.

Daisy Daly's mum, Nicola, died six years ago from a malignant melanoma.

She said: "I would love to see an availability for free sun cream at Jersey's beaches... I do think the government can do more to maybe assist this."

Dr Andrea Sanabria, Interim Director of Public Health, said the use of public sun cream dispensers would be "explored further" as part of a wider campaign planned for 2026.

News imageDaisy Daly Black-and-white portrait of Nicola and Daisy as a young child seated on a sofa. Nicola leans on an armrest with one hand supporting the head, wearing a sleeveless top and a short hairstyle. Daisy with light-colored, chin-length hair sits beside them, wearing a sleeveless outfit with a simple leaf design on the front. Both face the camera. Cushions and a plain wall form the background, with soft, even lighting across the scene.Daisy Daly
Daisy said hearing her mum had skin cancer came as a major shock to her and her family

Last year, Daly raised more than £8,000 for cancer charity Macmillan Jersey by running 5km (3.2 miles) every day through July in her mum's memory.

She said: "Macmillan Jersey were just incredible through their support with her... it just felt amazing to see people come together for a cause that is actually really important".

Daly added: "Everyone thinks they're invincible until they're not and you just don't realise that small, tiny changes like reapplying sun cream can make a huge impact on your life.

"When my mum told me that she had a melanoma skin cancer I completely disregarded it - I never thought that six years later she wouldn't be here any more."

On Thursday, MacMillan Jersey brought experts together for its Sun Awareness Seminar at the Royal Yacht Hotel to inform more people about how to stay safe in the sunnier months.

Steph Gibaut from the charity said the event was successful when it was first held last year and its objective was to "try and educate people in Jersey about how to stay safe".

Gibaut added: "Of course we want people to enjoy being outside and enjoy the sunshine but it's about doing it in a safe way."

News imageSteph is seated on the edge of a bed in a tidy bedroom, facing the camera, wearing a long-sleeved striped shirt. Behind her are closed floor-length curtains and a wall-mounted reading lamp positioned above a bedside table. The room has neutral walls, soft indoor lighting, and a calm, uncluttered appearance.
Steph Gibaut from Macmillan Jersey wants to educated more people about how to protect themselves from skin cancer

Figures last year showed Jersey has higher rates of skin cancer compared to England and Guernsey.

Public Health said it is working to ensure more people in Jersey were better protected from skin cancer and is reviewing what services are available in the island.

Sanabria said: "This is looking at everything we do, from helping to prevent skin cancer in the first place, through to early diagnosis, treatment, and discharge."

In response to the calls for sun cream being made free at beaches, Sanabria said a pilot scheme Macmillan Jersey ran in 2023 showed 84% of respondents reported already using sun cream at the beach.

"Many preferred to bring their own and applying it at home," she added.

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