OC Lifeguards Paddle Down For Skin Cancer Awareness

SAN CLEMENTE CA — The "SoCal PaddleDown For Cancer Relay" hit the shores of San Clemente City Beach on July 25, pausing their 250-mile paddle up the California Coast. Starting at San Diego's Imperial Beach, the event raised awareness for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's (JWCF) "Block The Blaze" skin cancer education program.

Lifeguards and Junior Lifeguards from San Clemente paddled the official "SoCal Paddle Down" paddleboard to the next lifeguarding jurisdiction, where it continued on its northbound trek.

California State Parks Junior Lifeguards Haley Scott, Banning Wetzel, Wesley Rehberg, Jet Stadick each took turns paddling the board during the event.

Lifeguards and Junior Lifeguards paddled through their jurisdiction, then hand the board off to the next agency further up the coast.

The paddle involved over 25 California lifeguard agencies with the relay ending at El Refugio State Beach in Gaviota.

"As lifeguards, we spend the majority of our careers in the sun, and we know the dangers of sun exposure," said Bill Humphreys, President of the California Surf Lifesaving Assn. (CSLSA)

"The SoCal PaddleDown is a great way of raising awareness about the dangers of sun exposure," a spokesperson told Patch. "The JWCF is providing the next generation of lifeguards the tools and information to prevent and detect skin cancer."

In California, 1 in 3 residents will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime. Nearly all skin cancer is curable if caught early and treated quickly. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with almost 4 million people diagnosed annually, according to the JWCF.

"Sun damage is cumulative, so the sooner we can provide lifesaving information to our youth, the better," said Lauren Fraga, Senior Program Director of JWCF. "Each summer, nearly 25,000 Junior Lifeguards learn how to be sun safe through our 'Block The Blaze' presentations. Afterward, they are given sunscreen and a hat to implement sun safety immediately. We are grateful to the CSLSA for helping the JWCF promote sun safety."

The "Block the Blaze" program is the official partner of the CSLSA to provide skin cancer education to Junior Lifeguards throughout California.

The program has educated over 100,000 Junior Lifeguards about sun safety and skin cancer with an emphasis on skin cancer prevention and screening. In addition to early detection and how to recognize the first signs of skin cancer, the program teaches the Junior Lifeguards how to protect themselves from harmful sun exposure.

To support this effort with donations, please visit jwcf.org.