The 5th annual Lake Hernando Dragon Boat Festival organized by High Five was held this past weekend over in Citrus County. A thousand dragon boat paddlers from 51 teams plus many vendors selling food and art were out in the sun all day. Participants gathered under their team tents and sat in chairs by the lake shore soaking up the sun as they watched the race. Paddlers are frequently exposed to the blazing sun at races and practice and it is important that they protect their skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunscreen is the easiest way to do so with ingredients that are meant to block UV radiation that can cause damage, premature aging, and skin cancer from reaching the skin. May Flores ran a free skin cancer screening booth where she checked people’s skin and passed out sunscreen packets. She reminded paddlers that it is important to protect your skin and detect signs early by watching out for misshapen moles, which may be melanoma. “Remember to protect your skin,” she said.
Written by Jacqueline Collier
Photos by Jacqueline Collier and Sandy Flores
