Football star backs Stoptober
Also backed by FRESH which says ‘It’s not too late to quit for Stoptober
NEWCASTLE United defender Steven Taylor is encouraging smokers to lead healthier lives and enjoy the benefits of taking part in the nation’s biggest ever quit smoking campaign Stoptober.
The United star has been joined by some of the region’s most recognisable businesses including Greggs and DB Regio Tyne and Wear, which operates the Metro on behalf of Nexus, backing the 28-day Department of Health initiative, which is being supported by FRESH to encourage the North East’s 460,000 smokers to make a quit attempt during October.
Research shows those who stop smoking for 28 days are five times more likely to stay quit and with one week to go before the end of the campaign, friends, families, employers and work colleagues are being told that they can still make a real difference to help support people to get their 28 day quit attempt underway.
To get started, those considering stopping for the remainder of October and beyond, should visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober for details.
Steven said: “I am very happy to support the Stoptober campaign. Even if I wasn’t a professional athlete, I would urge anyone who smokes to give it up immediately. I realise it may not be easy, but there is help out there for you. The benefits are huge and even more so if you want to take part in regular sporting activities. Go on, you can do it!”
Stephen, 41, office manager from Greggs’ headquarters in Newcastle, quit smoking 15-20 cigarettes a day, after 20 years on October 1 with support from the occupational health team at Greggs. He’s now in his fourth smokefree week and feels great as a result. His wife Michelle and two sons, Sam, 6 and Jake 8, have all supported him.
He said: “I’ve tried a couple of times before to quit, once through will power alone, and failed miserably, and once through hypnosis, which worked for a week, and then I started smoking again. My family have been nagging me for goodness knows how long to stop, so they’re very pleased as well. I said at the start of October that if I managed to quit smoking I’d use the money I saved to take the boys to see the WWE wrestling when it comes to Newcastle – so they’re keen for me to stay off the cigarettes! My wife says she can smell me now, rather than the cigarettes – which I think is a compliment. They’ve all been involved though, they’ve all helped keep me going.
“I work at Greggs and I quit with support from the occupational health team at work, as they are supporting the Stoptober campaign. I feel very pleased about stopping smoking. I hardly think about smoking at all now, and I don’t think of myself as a smoker any more, which is great. At the start I wasn’t sure how I’d get on, especially with two failed attempts to stop smoking before. I approached it with trepidation, but it’s been easier than I thought it would be and now I do feel that I’ve cracked it. I don’t think I’ll be smoking again.”
Janet Patterson, OHA & Greggs Group Occupational Health Co-ordinator: “Greggs employs over 20,000 people and the health and wellbeing of every employee is paramount. Smoking cessation is one of the areas that Greggs occupational health team can help our people make positive, healthy lifestyle choices and we hope the Stoptober campaign will encourage smokers to quit by taking up the 28 day stop smoking challenge.
“At Greggs we have the added incentive by challenging our employees to raise sponsorship funds in their bid to stop smoking, to go towards the Greggs Foundation which supports local communities in the areas where we operate.”
Sharon Kelly, Director of Customer Services at DB Regio Tyne and Wear, which operates the Metro on behalf of Nexus, said: “Metro is very happy to support Stoptober. All our stations, trains and other premises are smoke free and I think getting everyone together to support and encourage friends, family, work colleagues and customers who are trying to quit smoking, is a great thing to do. We want our staff and customers to be healthy and happy, so we wish everyone trying to quit smoking this October all the best – keep going. You can do it.”
During Stoptober, people can take advantage of more free support than ever, including a Stoptober quitting kit, a daily messaging service and quitting app for PCs and smartphones with tips, a money saving calculator and motivational messages.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, said: “Tens of thousands of people in the North East have successfully stopped smoking over the last few years and are now enjoying the benefits of being smoke-free.
“Stoptober is a great time for everyone to improve their health, self and wealth by quitting and it’s definitely not too late for people to join in by getting the support they need to get their 28 day quit attempt underway. Stopping smoking for a month is a great achievement and gives you a much better chance of staying quit – so well done to everyone who’s taken part so far and good luck to those who are considering having a go at quitting in the run up to Christmas.”
Benefits of quitting:
Reduce the risk of a serious smoking related disease from middle age You’ll improve your general fitness You’ll save hundreds if not thousands of pounds for nicer things Your skin and teeth will improve You won’t smell of smoke If you smoke indoors, you’ll protect loved ones from poisonous smoke
If you want to quit, you can also contact your local NHS Stop Smoking Service:
· Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0191 2292910
· South of Tyne and Wear Stop Smoking Service on 0191 283 1145.
To find out more about Stoptober visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober or for help to quit smoking visit your local stop smoking service or call NHS Smokefree on 0800 022 4 332.
To follow FRESH on facebook and Twitter – look for FreshSmokeFree.