A GROUP of Winsford builder merchants joined forces to raise awareness for skin cancer.

Skin cancer (malignant melanoma) is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with diagnosis rates rising faster than any of the current top ten cancers in the UK.

Men, particularly those who work outdoors like builders and construction workers, are at even greater risk of developing the disease.

For Sun Awareness Week, which took place between May 4-10, builders merchants, Minster, in Nat Lane Business Park, joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness of skin cancer among men in Winsford.

Lee Cowling, Marketing Manager at Minster said: “We hope that by working with Macmillan to raise awareness this Sun Awareness Week, we can help empower and educate our male customers to take control of their health and seek medical help sooner.”

For Sun Awareness Week Minster provided skin cancer and sun awareness information in-store and directed customers to local Macmillan support services.

Macmillan Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Carol Goodman, said: “We need to encourage more men to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, so we’re particularly thrilled to have the support from Minster to help us reach a particularly hard to reach group about this important issue.”