The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Department of Health Services are sponsoring a poster-drawing contest for students to increase their awareness about sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Please have your students draw pictures that show ways to prevent skin cancer--like wearing a wide-brimmed hat, using sunscreen and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Contest entry forms and rules are below.

All drawings must be received by the Department by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2009. The winning artwork will be professionally reproduced for use in the health department’s SunWise Skin Cancer Prevention Program.

First prize is 6 tickets for the winning artist and his/her teacher to the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants Be SunWise and Play SunSmart baseball game in Phoenix on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The winning artist and teacher will receive on-field awards and have their photos taken with D. Baxter the Bobcat.

There will be 50 semi-finalists, with at least two semi-finalists selected from each grade level. The posters will be judged by a panel of D-backs players’ wives who will then select the winner. Every student who submits a poster will receive a personalized thank-you certificate.

Click here to download the SunWise Poster Contest 2009 Letter.

Click here to download the SunWise Poster Contest 2009 Rules.

Click here to download the SunWise Poster Contest 2009 Tip Sheet.

Questions can be directed to Arizona SunWise Coordinator Sharon McKenna at 602-364-3143 or 800-367-6412 or e-mail: mckenns@azdhs.gov.

Get FREE SunWise activities and UV stuff at: www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise.