I don't want anyone to end up like me: headteacher with incurable skin cancer launches sun awareness campaign
“It’s important to educate our children now to get the message of sun safety out there as soon as possible”
A Sunderland primary school headteacher diagnosed with incurable stage four skin cancer has today (July 14) launched a sun safety awareness campaign with her pupils and the local community.
Emma Robins, who is headteacher at New Silksworth Academy, first went to her GP in 2021 after finding a “new mole” on her leg.
After being diagnosed with a stage 1 melanoma, Emma had the mole and some of the surrounding skin removed and was initially given the all clear, with doctors believing the cancer had not spread.
However, after experiencing pain in her pelvic area, Emma went back to her GP for further tests in September 2024, with the results confirming the cancer had spread.
She said: “I had developed pain walking, and after being sent for a scan they found a 10cm tumour in my pelvis area. Although at the time they thought all the cancer had been removed, it had got into my blood and travelled to different parts of my body.
“In March 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 4 incurable cancer for which I’m receiving palliative care. They can’t operate as it’s in my blood and so it would return. I’m learning to live with stage 4 cancer.”
Despite facing her own personal battle, Emma wants to use her position as a headteacher to raise awareness with her pupils and within the community of the need to protect yourself from the sun, by launching the New Silksworth Sun Safety Campaign.
She is also telling her own story as an ambassador for Cancer Research UK.
Emma said: “I don’t remember being badly burnt, but like most children growing up in the 80s I was outside playing. As an adult, I’ve generally been sensible in the sun, but I am fair skinned and so it’s probably just a result of UV exposure over a period of time.
“It’s important to educate our children now to get the message of sun safety out there as soon as possible. It’s also about getting the message out to the local community - I don’t want anyone to end up in the situation I’m in.”
The Academy’s campaign has involved the school’s head and deputy head boys and girls delivering assemblies to pupils as well as the children taking part in a range of activities including lessons learning about the science of UV damage as well as designing sun safety posters which are going to used by the Washington based charity the Melanoma Me Foundation.
Head girl Leila Harvey, 11, said: “The key message is to put on sun cream and to stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm. It’s important to get this message out now, ahead of the school summer holidays.”
Head boy Anas Waqar said: “It’s important to know to try an avoid getting sun burnt as a child because it can develop into skin cancer when you get older. I’m definitely more likely to put on sun cream after what I’ve learnt.”
As well as raising sun safety awareness, the charity offers support and counselling to people diagnosed with skin cancer and their families.
To raise money for the charity, the children are selling UV bands which change colour and get darker to warn people when UV levels may be getting dangerously high.
The charity’s awareness lead Claire Bell said: “85% of skin cancer cases can be avoided by stating safe in the sun. People wear tans as a badge of honour, but there are no safe tans.
“Skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and getting badly sun burned as a child doubles your chance of developing skin cancer as an adult.”
Emma added: “The key messages are to be vigilant and skin aware, and if you notice a change, go and see your GP and get a second opinion if need be.
“Be aware of the risks posed by the sun, even if it’s behind the clouds. Wear sun cream when outside and try to avoid being in the sun during the hottest part of the day.”
The school has also been awarded the Sun Safe Schools Certificate.