Feature News

Program Asks Athletes and Fans Alike to Educate and Protect Themselves against Incidental Sun Damage

KENILWORTH, N.J., June 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With the first day of summer around the corner, Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP), the makers of COPPERTONE(R), announced today that they have teamed up with New York Yankees' first baseman Mark Teixeira and the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) for "Help Strike Out Sun Damage," a campaign to raise awareness about the risks of incidental sun exposure--the kind one can get from playing sports outside, or even just enjoying a game from the stands--and the importance of staying protected.

Teixeira, the NFCR, and COPPERTONE SPORT(R) are inviting Americans to visit www.coppertone.com to take the "Help Strike Out Sun Damage" pledge. Consumers visiting the site can commit to helping protect their skin from UV damage while enjoying their favorite outdoor activities this summer and beyond. For every person who takes the pledge, COPPERTONE SPORT(R) will donate one dollar, up to $30,000, to the NFCR to fund skin cancer research.

"As a professional baseball player, my job requires me to spend a great deal of time in the sun, so it's essential for me to guard my skin from the sun's harmful UV rays with a powerful sunscreen that protects me even when I am playing my hardest, which is why I choose COPPERTONE SPORT(R)," said Teixeira, who has trained and played in hot, sunny climates. "For my career and my family, it's important to stay healthy. That's why I'm passionate about teaming up with the NFCR and COPPERTONE SPORT(R) to get the message out that we all need to help protect ourselves from sun damage--whether on the field or in the bleachers."

The makers of COPPERTONE SPORT(R) will also be launching a series of events at Yankees Stadium throughout the baseball season to help educate Yankees fans about the importance of sun protection. Some of these events will feature the COPPERTONE DERMAPHOTO(TM) booth, which takes a UV photo of the face revealing signs of skin damage invisible to the naked eye that may have been caused by past sun exposure. To help fans keep themselves protected, the makers of COPPERTONE(R) will provide an opportunity to try COPPERTONE SPORT(R), the official sunscreen of the New York Yankees.

"We are excited to be working with Mark Teixeira and the makers of COPPERTONE SPORT(R) on this educational campaign," said Franklin Salisbury, Jr., President of the NFCR. "The National Foundation for Cancer Research is committed to informing Americans about reducing their risks of developing this disease. Certain forms of skin cancer are preventable, and we hope this program will help raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and, in doing so, make a significant contribution to skin cancer research."

About National Foundation for Cancer Research

Since 1973, The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) has provided over $260 million to support cancer research and public education relating to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, a cure for cancer. NFCR promotes and facilitates collaboration among scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside. NFCR is about Research for a Cure--cures for all types of cancer. Visit www.NFCR.org for more information.

About COPPERTONE(R)

COPPERTONE(R), Water BABIES(R), COPPERTONE SPORT(R), ultraGUARD(R) COPPERTONE KIDS(R), NutraShield(R), and Dual Defense(R) are registered trademarks of Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.

About Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough Consumer Health Care is the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) and consumer products business unit of Schering-Plough, an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development platform to human prescription, animal health and consumer health care products. Schering-Plough's vision is to "Earn Trust, Every Day" with the doctors, patients, customers and other stakeholders served by its colleagues around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com.