Hundreds of smokers across Huntingdonshire took up the ultimate challenge, to stop smoking for the 25 anniversary of National No Smoking Day 12 March 2008.

Julie Craig an employee from Boots celebrated her success today after taking up the ultimate challenge to ‘quit for a week’ supported by Huntingdonshire District Council. Julie also took the challenge as an opportunity to raise sponsorship money for charity and raised an amazing £66 for Cancer Research UK.

The council encouraged a number of local employees to take part in the challenge and offered support the week prior to National No Smoking Day through stop smoking clinics and monitored the use of NRT products, which Boots Pharmacy supplied to the participants for the week free of charge.

For successfully completing the challenge Julie was presented with a Camquit certificate and a day pass to an Impressions Fitness Suite at any one of the council’s five leisure centres by Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Simpson. Also in attendance were Oliver Langford Smokefree Implementation Officer part of the lifestyles team at the council and Zoë Cross from Camquit heavily disguised as a giant cigarette. 

Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Simpson said; “The ‘quit for a week’ challenge along with the support available from the council provided people who wanted to stop an excellent opportunity do so. Well done to all those that were successful in their attempt, keep it up!”

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 are thrilled the challenge has inspired people to quit for good and that they are already feeling the health benefits”.