Stoptober roadshow comes to Newcastle
Is it a UFO? Is it a bouncy castle? No it’s the giant red Stoptober wheel which will be turning heads in Newcastle city centre this week in a day of quitting.
The national Stoptober roadshow will be at Newcastle’s Monument this Thursday, 19th September, from 10am-6pm, encouraging hundreds of people to sign up for the nation’s biggest ever quit smoking initiative.
Smokers will be able to stop while they shop and register for all the free support available online and through the post during Stoptober. They will also be able to chat to stop smoking advisers from Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Service who can talk through all the local support available.
To spread the word further, the giant red Stop wheel from the TV advert will be pushed around the city centre, leaving Newcastle Civic Centre at 11.30am, and up to the statue of Sir Bobby Robson at St James Park before heading down to Northumberland Street and back up to the Civic Centre.
The wheel will be pushed by ultra-marathon runner and ex 40 a day smoker Rory Coleman.
Christine Dryden, Manager of the Newcastle & North Tyneside Stop Smoking Service, part of Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are giving full backing to Stoptober and we’re determined that as many people as possible see this as a great opportunity to quit.
“It’s not often that a trip to the shops can help you save money and improve your health, so drop in on the 19th September at the Monument and take the first step to quit.”
Stoptober is a 28 day initiative from Public Health England, which is backed by Fresh and encourages the North East’s 460,000 smokers to make a quit attempt, starting on October 1.
Someone stopping smoking for 28 days is five times more likely to stay quit, Along with the health benefits, stopping will save the average smoker over £150 a month and almost £2,000 a year.
To register for Stoptober, all you have to do is click on smokefree.nhs.uk/Stoptober/
If you want to quit smoking and want local support, you can also contact Newcastle and North Tyneside NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0191 2292911 or Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Stop Smoking Services on0800 531 6317.