The Hoosiers and Sunday Girl to Play Skindividual gig for Cancer Research UK'S SunSmart Campaign

The Hoosiers and Sunday Girl to Play Skindividual gig for Cancer Research UK'S SunSmart Campaign

LONDON, September 14, 2010/PRNewswire/ --

- 'skindividual' gig Highlights Dangers of Sunburn to a Youth Audience

The Hoosiers and Sunday Girl will perform an exclusive gig for one lucky
teenager - who has won the chance to curate her own gig - as part of
skindividual, the online music initiative from Cancer Research UK.

The acts will perform on Wednesday 29th September at The Relentless
Garage, London, for eighteen year-old Courtney Hicks, from Essex, as part of
the skindividual initiative from SunSmart, Cancer Research UK's skin cancer
prevention campaign. The initiative, which launched in 2009, encourages
people to declare themselves a skindividual - someone who recognises that
their skin is unique, wants to protect it from sunburn, and is proud to do
so.

The competition offered young music fans like Courtney the chance to
dream up their most creative ideas for a gig. The twist was placing a message
at the heart of the party about not getting caught out by sunburn
(http://www.skindividual.co.uk/tabContent/tabQuestion.php) . The creators of
the ten best ideas were then challenged to promote their gig using social
networks to get as many votes as possible.

Courtney utilised all her experience of social media to promote her idea
for a glamorous, glitter-filled, pop party to secure over 6,000 votes and
beat off stiff competition from the other finalists. Courtney's gig will also
take the opportunity to promote to skindividual message.

As part of her prize, Courtney has been assigned her very own dedicated
team of live music experts including booking agents, gig promoters and web
designers - to help turn her dream gig into a reality.

Her unique event is also being supported and shaped by some of the music
industry's powerhouses including NME editor Krissi Murison, Radio 1 Xtra
presenter Max Akhtar, Bestival director Ben Turner, Jason Legg, Head of Live
music at HMV, Rockness festival director Jim King, Ben Fender, MD of top
event producers Drive Productions, and Sophie Epstone, founder of music and
fashion youth cancer charity Trekstock.

Courtney said: "I can't wait to see The Hoosiers and Sunday Girl play at
my very own gig to help raise awareness of such an important issue for young
people. I've always been pale and I used to get really annoyed when I was
younger about not being able to tan and having to protect myself in the sun.
This competition has allowed me to show other people that you can be proud of
your natural skin colour whilst still enjoying the sun."

The Hoosiers added: "We are delighted to be helping Courtney and her
friends by being part of skindividual 2010. Not many young people appreciate
the importance of their skin and the damage signified by sunburn and relaying
the dangers through music is a fantastic way to engage people. We can't wait
for the show."

The skindividual competition was launched in 2009 in response to rising
rates of malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, among
young people in the UK. Rates of malignant melanoma have more than tripled
among young people aged 15-34 in the past 30 years, and it is the second most
common form of cancer in the UK among this age group. Sunburn is a clear sign
that skin cells have been damaged by UV radiation, and increases the risk of
skin cancer later in life. So enjoying the sun safely is key.

The forthcoming skindividual gig will build upon the success of last
year, when budding teen musician Kate McGill won a chance to share the stage
with her idols Ladyhawke, New Young Pony Club and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Caroline Cerny, Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign manager, said:
"We're delighted with the response to this year's skindividual competition.
The finalists all made a real effort with their videos and in generating
votes for them, and we were impressed with the creative approaches they came
up with to raise awareness of the dangers of sunburn. Courtney's
glitter-filled pop bonanza is set to be a great night, and it's fantastic
that The Hoosiers and Sunday Girl are supporting the initiative."

Tickets for the gig are available now from the skindividual website
(http://www.skindividual.co.uk). For a chance to attend the gig and see The
Hoosiers and Sunday Girl live at Relentless Garage, simply fill in a short
questionnaire before Wednesday 29th September. The tickets will then be
selected through a random lottery system, with lucky selected fans claiming a
ticket to the gig.

Anyone can develop skin cancer but some people have a higher risk
including those with fair skin, lots of moles or freckles, a history of
sunburn or a family history of skin cancer.

For further information about skindividual visit
http://www.skindividual.co.uk. For further information about Cancer Research
UK's SunSmart programme, visit http://www.sunsmart.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign, commissioned by the UK health
departments, aims to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and
early detection against skin cancer.

To be in with a chance of winning a ticket to the skindividual gig,
entrants must be from England and aged over 16 years old.

About Cancer Research UK

- Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated
to beating cancer through research.
- The charity's groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. This work is
funded entirely by the public.
- Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has
already seen survival rates double in the last forty years.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer
through the work of more than 4,800 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's
vision is to beat cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out
how to support the charity, please call +44(0)20-7121-6699 or visit
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

For more information, please contact Paul McNicholl at Unity on
+44(0)207-440-9820, paul@hellounity.com or Keji Olutimayin at Unity on
+44(0)207-440-9814, kej@hellounity.com

Source: Cancer Research UK

For more information, please contact Paul McNicholl at Unity on +44(0)207-440-9820, paul@hellounity.com or Keji Olutimayin at Unity on +44(0)207-440-9814, kej@hellounity.com

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