Cancer charity founder slams 'infantile games'

GILL NUTTALL: Critical of social media 'challenges'

A LEADING UK skin cancer charity has slammed recent social media "challenges" for failing to inspire real action to help beat the disease.

Gillian Nuttall, chief executive of Shaw-based charity Melanoma UK, has urged people to stop taking part in the online craze and sharing "meaningless" status updates.

It follows the rise of a social media "challenge", known as "The 2016 Breast Cancer Awareness Game", which encourages people to post a false statement, such as "I've just been accepted on Come Dine With Me" or "Just found a squirrel in my car", with no explanation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and wait for people to comment or like the status.

When an unsuspecting friend reacts, the poster sends them a private message stating: "You've fallen for the 2016 Breast Cancer Awareness game. Don't be a spoil sport." They are then urged to post their own false statement and carry on the "game".

Gill, a Pride in Oldham award winner, said: "This has to stop. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable. Unless there is a call to action then the status update, the request for sharing, is meaningless.

"Do social media users think that before the birth of Facebook, no-one knew how cancer affects people and families?

Responding

"We are often told that this kind of thing raises awareness. If after responding to such an infantile 'game' you are suddenly aware of the existence of cancer or any other disease for that matter, you've been living in a darkened room since the day you were born."

The "game" does not mention any charity, call on people to donate or encourage people to find out more about the disease and it follows previous social media campaigns

It follows previous "Breast Cancer Games" which encouraged people to post the colour of their underwear or a coded message about their relationship status and reply to anyone who comments.

Although some charities participate in awareness and fundraising challenges on social media, such as the popular Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS Association, Melanoma UK is distancing itself from such activities.

Gill, who founded the charity in 2008 in memory of close family friend Jon Herron, who died having fought the disease, said: "We love to have the support of the public, but we also want to make sure our supporters know about the organisation, what we do and more importantly about the disease itself.

"The majority of our fundraisers are working with us because they have been affected by melanoma and they want to try and make a difference.

"Awareness of this disease is better than it was 10 years ago, but there is still a long way to go.

"No amount of status updates, selfies, colour, black and white or otherwise, is going to increase awareness."