Back in 2009 our mate Wes Bonny found out a melanoma on his neck had spread its way up to his brain. A few months later he tragically passed away. Wes was safe in the sun, and the last person you’d expect to be knocked down by skin cancer. As you can well imagine it’s been a massive loss for all who knew him and each year we host a memorial footy match called the Wes Bonny Cup. Alongside this a few mates and I started growing beards in an effort to spread the word about how important it is to check your skin and know what to look for. We feel there’s plenty of messaging out there about covering up, wearing suncream and so-on, but nothing about knowing the signs. This Is Beard has been a great way to get the word but we’re keen to step things up. This summer, we’re beginning a campaign for volunteer skin check stations on popular beaches – just as lifesavers save people from drowining – medical students, nurses, doctors and certified practitioners could be out there saving people from Australia’s biggest killer. On top of this, all of us should be better educated about what to keep an eye on. You can start by making an appointment through http://www.cancer.org.au or your local GP. Most appointments are free and if they’re not they should be. Please stay in touch and share this message with your mates. If you know any contacts or can offer assistance please get in touch. Thanks for visiting.