Kids raise sun safety awareness

Students can help raise awareness about sun safety and win prizes by entering the 2008 SHADE poster contest. The annual contest is a joint effort by the SHADE Foundation of America and the Enviornmental Protection Agency to teach children ways to protect skin from excessive sun exposure.

Too much sun can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and immune suppression. Sun protection education is especially important for children because unprotected exposure in childhood puts them at an increased lifetime risk for skin cancer.

"Limit the Sun, Not the Fun" is the theme of this year's poster contest, which runs until April 1. Students in grades K-8 can submit hand-drawn posters on an 8.5 X 11" sheet of paper.

Winning posters will receive state and national prizes, with the overal national winner receiving a trip for four to Disney World.

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6 visit www.epa.gov/region6.