Celebrities back free suncream for disadvantaged kids this summer with Sun Poverty campaign

Kristina Rihanoff with Daughter Mila
Escentual.com

Celebrities have backed a scheme that will see disadvantaged primary school children get free bottles of high factor sun cream.

30,000 bottles of HPF lotion will be handed out via London food banks for children on free school meals to use over the summer holidays through the Sun Poverty campaign.

Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, who welcomed her first child with boyfriend Tom Andrews in January, said: “All children should have access to adequate sun protection.”

Ashley James with five-month-old son Alfie
Escentual.com

Research says major sun exposure in childhood is the single most important risk factor for contracting life-threatening Melanoma and blistering sunburn doubles the chance of developing skin cancer as an adult.

Eastenders actress Kara Tointon, from west London who has two sons under three-years-old, said: “It’s so important to keep children protected from the sun with good quality high factor sun cream.

“Skin cancer is a growing problem in the UK and that’s why I always keep my two little ones well covered in lotion at all times.”

The campaign is backed by world-renowned skincare expert and bestselling author Caroline Hirons, who is an outspoken advocate of broad-spectrum high factor SPF for everyday use and is supporting the campaign because malignant Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the UK and numbers have nearly tripled in the past 30 years.

Caroline Hirons is backing the campaign

Escentual is also campaigning for the government to drop VAT on children’s sun cream.

Other supporters of the Sun Poverty campaign, organised by online beauty retailer Escentual.com, include Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff mother of only daughter Mila.

She said: “Children have delicate and sensitive skin which must be protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Everyone should wear broad spectrum SPF every day, not just on sunny days, but not everyone can afford it.”

For more on the campaign click here.

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