THE SKY’S the limit for skin cancer campaigner Claire Dale after smashing a 12-month target for industry support in just six weeks.

MASCED – Melanoma And Skin Cancer Early Detection – is a free educational accreditation programme for hair, health and beauty industry professionals.

The campaign has been launched by Skcin, the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, and the campaign is led by Claire, from Alderley Edge, who joined the charity after her mum died in 2014 at the age of 63 from melanoma.

Claire was hoping to sign up 500 businesses by the launch of the accreditation, but has been overwhelmed by the response, which has seen the campaign make national newspaper headlines and Claire interviewed on Sky TV.

“Since our launch on January 29 and the Wilmslow Guardian covered the story we’ve had had more than 2,000 registrations - our goal for the year was 1,000,” said Claire.

“A total of 600 people are now fully MASCED-accredited, with hundreds more in the middle of the course.

“The feedback we have had from all 600 is incredible. We have had a huge response from articles in The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Sky online and The Daily Express, and then I was called in to talk about the campaign live on Sky News with Kay Burley.

“We are guest speakers at this weekend’s Professional Beauty show, and will be showcasing MASCED in front of the beauty industry at the UK’s biggest trade show.

“We have been endorsed by Habia, the Government-approved standards-setting body for the hair and beauty industry, and we are approved by BABTAC.

“It has been a whirlwind, and it all started here in Wilmslow! We are still wanting people to register and donate.”

It is free to register for the training and to receive the training – visit masced.uk

Claire said: “If my mum’s physiotherapist and beautician had had this training the outcome could have been so different.

“Early detection of melanoma saves lives, as 86 per cent of deaths are preventable.

“Two thousand five hundred people died of melanoma last year, and 100,000 cases of skin cancer were diagnosed, making it the most common of all cancers.

“The aim of the online training is to reduce the alarming rise in skin cancer cases and deaths from melanoma by harnessing the power of these professionals, who see their client’s skin on a regular basis.

“With more than 250,000 people employed across these industries, training them in skin cancer awareness will have a huge impact and save lives.

"By taking the time to swot up on skin surveillance and learn how to identify suspicious lesions, you could detect the early signs of skin cancer and advise your client to take action.

"This could prevent your client from disfigurement through surgery and in the case of spotting melanoma early, you could even prevent their death."