Mr. McDonald is a strong advocate of the Cancer Council NSW’s Improve your long game program which is currently underway at the Dubbo Golf Club, having experienced complications with skin cancer since the age of 19. 

The Improve your long game program seeks to encourage men aged 40 and over to adopt good sun protection habits.

The program, co-funded by the Cancer Council NSW and the Cancer Institute NSW, has implemented information displays around the Dubbo clubhouse to educate members on the need for sun safety, as well as providing free sunscreen around the golf course to encourage players to stay protected from the sun. 

“The aims of the initiatives of the Cancer Council is to make people aware of the damage that the sun can do,” Mr. McDonald said. 

“I am certainly aware of it because I’ve lived the unfortunate experience [of having skin cancer],” he said. 

Since the age of 19 Mr. McDonald has suffered the complications of skin cancer. Mr. McDonald said he hoped his involvement in the program will set a good example for others of how to stay safe in the harsh sunlight so that less people will have to experience skin cancer. 

Community Programs Coordinator for Cancer Council NSW Camilla Thompson said the long periods of time recreational golfers spend exposed to harsh sunlight puts golfers at a high risk of skin damage and skin cancer.

Particularly, men over 40 are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than women in the same age bracket, she said. 

“It’s important to have a sun protection routine in place on and off the course, and following the example of players like Jim is a great start,” Ms. Thompson said. 

“There are certainly preventative measures to overcome the problems of the sun on our skin,” Jim said. 

Mr. McDonald advised that skin cancer could be prevented by wearing protective clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen when exposed to the sun.