What is The Great Country Cover Up?
The Great Country Cover Up (GCC) is a nationwide campaign in New Zealand running from September 2007 to February 2008. It is aimed at the people on New Zealand’s 75,000 farms, who are at a greater risk of skin damage from the effects of the sun than almost any other group of New Zealanders because of the time they spend outside.
It is designed to raise awareness of New Zealand farmers of the dangers of the sun and to highlight what they can do to minimise risk to themselves and to their families. It has the full support of the Cancer Society. As a rural company, Donaghys support The Great Country Cover Up and are official participants in this campaign.
Why do we need The Great Country Cover Up?
In one word, cancer. Of the many terrible cancers we are aware of, skin cancer is by far the most common one affecting New Zealanders. The importance of protecting our skin from the effects of the sun is now well documented. Yet around 1,800 new melanoma cases and a staggering 45,000 new non-melanoma skin cancer cases are confirmed by laboratory tests in New Zealand each year.
On top of this, there are approximately 20,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers eah year which are treated immediately, without the use of laboratory tests. Each year hundreds of New Zealanders die as a result of skin cancer, a statistic second only to the road toll. Sobering statistics.
It's New Zealand's summer epidemic. And we need to do something about it.
Agricultural Chemicals