Smokers in Elgin St. Thomas contemplating quitting should sign up for the Driven to Quit Challenge before it’s too late! The contest hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society is a health promotion campaign that engages smokers and tobacco users in Ontario to make a quit attempt for the month of March 2015. Residents of Ontario can enter if they are age 19+ as of March 1st, have used tobacco at least once weekly for at least 10 months in 2014, and who have used tobacco at least 100 times in their life.
The grand prize is a choice of one of three cars: a 2015 Nissan Sentra SR; or a 2015 Corolla S; or a 2015 Scion tC. There are also seven regional cash prizes of $1000. Support buddies who register in support of a smoker attempting to quit are also eligible for a cash prize of $100. “The contest is a great opportunity and incentive for smokers contemplating quitting to give it a try!” says Jessica Lang, Health Promoter at Elgin St. Thomas Public Health. “There are so many health benefits to quitting smoking and the added incentive of winning a new car or a cash prize makes that attempt even more appealing”, adds Lang.
Research shows that the majority of smokers want to quit and know that it is the number one thing they can do for their health. It is important to keep in mind that it takes the average smoker several attempts before quitting successfully. “Don’t be discouraged if you have tried to quit before and returned to smoking. This is normal! Give it another try!”, says Lang.
Interested smokers can learn more and register online at driventoquit.ca up until February 28th 2015. For additional support with quitting, smokers can call the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 to speak with a non-judgmental Quit Coach to create a personalized plan for quitting.
Alternatively, smokers can call Elgin St. Thomas Public Health at 519-631-9900 to speak to someone about our next quit smoking workshop or about booking an appointment in our smoking cessation clinic and accessing nicotine replacement therapy.
Media Contact:
Jessica Lang
Health Promoter
519-631-9900 ext 1304