Last year more than 1000 people packed Mooloolaba Beach for the inaugural Australia’s Biggest Bakslap event to get as many people together applying sunscreen as possible.
While Covid-19 has put a dampener on our ability to come together, it has not changed the impact of the sun’s harmful rays and the importance of sun protection that this fun, safety awareness event started last in Mooloolaba.
To keep the message of sun awareness going this year founder and creator of Bakslap, Raphael McGowan took the massive sunscreen application event from our beaches to our screens with an interactive game allowing people of all ages to apply sunscreen and sun safety items to avatars.
“Anyone, anywhere on their phone or PC can show they are sun safe this year and helping to spread the important message of keeping protected outdoors, especially this Summer,” Mr McGowan said.
“Our aim is to have as many young people as possible participating in the simultaneous sunscreen application game because they are in a high-risk category for melanoma.
“COVID restrictions meant we were not able to build on last year’s huge success with thousands of people across different locations bak’slappin on some sunscreen and making a powerful visual statement in their region, but we’re excited to see how people interact with this virtual environment.
“The sun safety message, creating awareness around it and the sun’s potential dangers requires constant innovation, so this year we’re having a crack at a new approach.”
After this Summer sun smart campaign, Mr McGowan plans to work with the Department of Education in Queensland and other states and work with staff and students to create a new, fun, interactive, phone-based tech game about sun safety for kids.
“It’s the ideal age to arm the next generation with the best way to have fun in the sun but enjoy it responsibly,” he said.
