Every year the New Zealand Cancer Society holds a Daffodil Day. This year it is August 31st. This is a fund raising day to raise money to support people with cancer and to educate people about cancer. Volunteers collect money on the streets and give you a fabric daffodil in return. You can also buy fresh daffodils.
The daffodil is one of the first flowers in spring so it is a symbol of hope and joy. Cancer can often be cured if people see their doctor as soon as they notice some symptoms.
Many New Zealanders suffer from cancer and some die from it. The main cancer deaths are from lung cancer, bowel cancer, breast cancer (women) and prostate cancer (men).
Melanoma skin cancer is also a problem in New Zealand. New Zealand has the highest rates of melanoma in the world. We have very high levels of UV (ultra-violet) radiation yet we love sunbathing. The Cancer Society teaches children to be sunsmart. Slip, slop, slap means slip on a shirt at the beach, slop on sun screen and slap on a hat.
Vocabulary
in return – in exchange for your donation
symbol – a sign e.g. the silver fern is a symbol of New Zealand
slip on – put on clothes (informal)
slop on – put on a liquid or a cream (informal)
slap on – put on a hat (informal)
Questions
What is ‘a healthy lifestyle’? What are some things you can do to try to prevent cancer?