Melanoma New Zealand is delighted to welcome husband and wife duo, Blackcap Martin Guptill and The Hits radio host and Sky broadcaster Laura McGoldrick, as its newest ambassadors.

'Both Laura's and Martin's lives have been tragically impacted by melanoma and we are very appreciative to them both for their willingness to share their personal experiences of this disease, and to help us in the fight to save lives,” says Melanoma New Zealand chief executive, Andrea Newland.

'Educating as many people as possible about how to prevent melanoma and the importance of early detection is just so important,” says Laura.

'We are delighted to be on board with the Melanoma New Zealand team and are really keen to spread the word and hopefully help turn around our country's terrible statistics.”

Martin's beloved father Peter passed away from melanoma in 2017, and Laura lost her cousin Amelia to a rare form of melanoma.

'My family is incredibly important to me,” says Laura.

'Amelia and I grew up together and were very close. She died when she was just 12 years old.

'I was 11 when we lost her; my family is so close and tight knit - losing her was just devastating.

'I have my own young children now and knowing the experience Amelia had at such a young age, Guppy and I are both now even more careful about ensuring our children wear hats and sunscreen and cover up when outside. Not only does our family history of melanoma increase our risk, but having sunburn in childhood can lead to melanoma later in life too.”

Martin's dad died of melanoma in his early 60s, not long after he was diagnosed.

'Dad spent a lot of time outside, and unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price when he got melanoma.

'I miss him so much, and that experience, together with being out in the sun all day for my job, has made me acutely aware of being careful with my own skin.

"Dad had the kiwi ‘she'll be right' approach to life, and by the time he went to the doctor, it was too late,” he says.

'I was pregnant at the time with Harley,” adds Laura.

'He never got to meet Harley and Teddy and be their granddad. He would have been a wonderful granddad; we constantly talk about how much he would have loved the kids.

'Both Guppy and I are passionate about educating other people to be safe outside, so they don't have to go through what we've been through. New Zealand has the highest rate of melanoma in the world, and we need to do better, and be better, for ourselves and our kids.”

Andrea says Laura and Martin join two other wonderful ambassadors, Michelin Star Chef Josh Emett and former Silver Ferns Captain Adine Wilson, and the organisation is so grateful to them all for their generous support to help the cause.

'With more people dying from skin cancer than on our roads each year, our work is urgent. If melanoma is found and treated early, it is almost always curable,” she says.

To donate to Melanoma New Zealand: www.melanoma.org.nz/donate

For information on being sun smart: www.melanoma.org.nz/prevention

For information on detecting melanoma early: www.melanoma.org.nz/early-detection