Oxford Hills skin cancer initiative wins award

NORWAY — The New England Melanoma Foundation has sponsored a Tan Free Prom for the past several years. Oxford Hills has participated in the contest for the past five years, this year earning fourth place, with a monetary award of $1,000, for having one of the highest participation rates in the contest.

Students pledge to go tan free to the prom and have their names placed on the cafeteria wall. Prizes are also given via the Oxford Hills Skin Initiative.

Other initiatives include placing sunscreen dispensers at the Gouin Field and high school, planting trees at the Paris Elementary school, running public service announcements about skin cancer prevention via WOXO and posting signs at local recreation field promoting skin care protection.

The students have been active the past two years in the initiative, created by high school health teacher Chuck Martin, to raise awareness about skin cancer and its prevention throughout the Oxford Hills area.

Pictured at the sunscreen dispenser located at the high school are, from left, Ashley Bedell, Gina Colley, and Concetta Stewart, who have all been instrumental in helping with the initiatives.