Hundreds of smokers across Huntingdonshire are taking up the ultimate challenge, to stop smoking for National No Smoking Day on 12 March 2008.
This year’s campaign is encouraging people to ‘quit for a week’ and Huntingdonshire District Council has approached local businesses to take up the challenge.
Ten employees from local businesses including The Cromwell Bar and Restaurant, Costa Coffee and Graham Brothers have agreed to participate and are being supported by the council starting on Wednesday 5 March until 12 March. Some have also taken the challenge as an opportunity to raise sponsorship money for Cancer Research UK.
Three quarters of all smokers say they would like to quit and nationally over a million attempt to do so on No Smoking Day every year. This year’s theme ‘can you quit for a week?’ is an acknowledgement of the tough challenge that many smokers face when attempting to quit.
Oliver Langford, Smoke Free Implementation Officer is holding daily drop-in stop smoking clinics for the participants at the council offices, Centenary House, St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon. Oliver said; “The sessions will provide them with the motivation and support required to successfully quit for the week. We will offer advice and monitor the use of NRT products, which Boots Pharmacy is supplying to the participants for the week”.
Zoë Cross from Camquit Stop Smoking Service explained the benefits of giving up smoking; “We know that just after 24 hours of stopping smoking carbon monoxide levels in the blood drop dramatically allowing more oxygen to flow around the body. Within days a smoker’s sense of taste and smell improves. We hope that those taking up the challenge to quit for a week will be inspired to quit for good and will then see even more health benefits”.
Those who successfully complete the challenge will be presented with a Camquit certificate and day pass to an Impressions Fitness Suite at any one of the council’s five leisure centres.
Simon Bell, Leisure Centres Coordinator said; “Our trained impressions staff are keen to offer support and advice to both new and established members who want to quit in support of National No Smoking Day”.
Additional support is being offered by Camquit Stop Smoking Service between 10 – 14 March at The Oak Tree Centre, Huntingdon. For more information telephone 01480 418693 or visit camquit website by clicking on the link on the right.