P.E.I. students won't tan for prom

Students at Kensington High School in P.E.I. are challenging their classmates to avoid tanning for this year's prom.

'If you start tanning younger than the age of 30, you increase your chances of getting skin cancer by 75 per cent.' —Student Kathleen Murphy

Getting tanned shoulders for the prom dress is traditionally part of the graduation-class rite of passage on P.E.I., but growing awareness of skin cancer prompted two students, Kathleen Murphy and Chelsea Christensen, at the central Island school to launch a campaign against the practice.

For Christensen, skin cancer has become a personal issue.

"My mom got diagnosed with skin cancer last year," Christensen told CBC News on Thursday. "It was found in a mole, because she had done so much tanning when she was younger."

The two students launched a campaign this year asking to sign a pledge not to tan for the prom. School authorities offered two prom tickets in a draw for those signing up, and the Canadian Cancer Society came to the school to give a presentation on the dangers of tanning.

So far, 30 students have signed up for "Plan Not to Tan" — close to half of the graduating class.

Marla Delaney, prevention programs manager with the Cancer Society on P.E.I., said it's exciting to see young people get involved with the issue.

"This is excellent. It's everything I'm looking for the communities to step up and do," said Delaney. "These students really had a passion."

Murphy and Christensen are not stopping at their anti-tanning prom event. They also hope to gather support for a provincial ban on young people using tanning beds.

"The petition is going to say that we'd like people to not allow people who are 18 years or younger to use the tanning bed," said Murphy. "The truth is, if you start tanning younger than the age of 30 you increase your chances of getting skin cancer by 75 per cent."