The Magic Sunscreen: Making a difference for future generations
We caught up with journalist and author Samantha Brett to learn about the inspiration behind her first children’s book, The Magic Sunscreen, and the reasons why she chose to support Cure Cancer.
Samantha and Harper
As well as being a well known face as a news reporter on Seven News and a bestselling author of several books, Samantha Brett is also mother to four-year old daughter, Harper. Her most recent foray into children’s books is the latest in a long line of exciting projects, but its inspiration came from an unexpected source.
‘My little girl is the highlight of my life, but like so many kids, she can’t stand sunscreen. Having lived in Australia all my life, I’m an absolute stickler for sun protection. We love the beach, but my whole family has very fair skin and we’ve all had to get dangerous moles removed. I have two friends who have had to get skin cancers removed from their faces, so I know only too well how common the disease can be. I also know how important it is to form habits early, but every time it came to going out in the sunshine, the situation would end in tears. I was at a total loss.’
Samantha thought long and hard about how she might be able to help Harper overcome her sunscreen phobia, until she eventually struck on an idea.
‘One day I just sat down and wrote a little narrative about Harper and her friends finding a magic sunscreen and being protected from the sun. I started reading it to her every day and then one day she asked me if she could put on sunscreen before school. Before I knew it, she was making the request every day! It was very cute and a huge breakthrough. I knew other parents in the same boat, so I decided to get the book illustrated and print a few copies for family and friends. I was so pleased to hear back from them that it was working on their kids too! That’s when we decided to launch it out to the public.’
Sadly, Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with at least 2 in 3 Australians set to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70. What’s even more frightening is the fact that melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young people (15-29 years), proving Samantha’s book could not have come at a better time.
‘When I heard about how prevalent melanoma is in young people, it made me even more concerned about the need to teach children the importance of sunscreen. It’s up to us to educate future generations. If we can change their perception of skin protection and make it fun, together we can help change these statistics.’
Samantha is also passionate about the need for innovative cancer research, and has made the generous commitment of donating 25% of sales from The Magic Sunscreen towards skin cancer research.
The Magic Sunscreen
‘My job as a news reporter means I’m exposed to many horrific things, but I also get to see the beautiful parts of life, like amazing researchers who dedicate their lives to ending cancer for all. Science is key and we are thrilled to be supporting Cure Cancer. Their mission of making this the last generation to die from cancer is something I know any parent can get behind, and anything we can do to support that goal I am all for.’
“The scientists funded by Cure Cancer are extraordinary people, and bringing awareness to their vital work is absolutely crucial. With research and science, hopefully we can change the world.”
A huge thank you to Samantha for supporting Cure Cancer. Purchase your copy of The Magic Sunscreen today.