Family Day can remind tobacco users why they want to quit

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By EMC News

EMC News -Belleville -Research shows that nearly two-thirds of Ontario smokers want to quit, and Family Day may remind tobacco users why they've vowed to kick the addiction.

"Next to health, one of the most common reasons for quitting smoking we hear of is family," says Dominique Bruce, a Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline Quit Coach. "Many people want to quit for their kids or their grandchildren, especially."

This Family Day, the Canadian Cancer Society is offering Ontarians a few extra reasons to quit smoking, including the chance to win a family vacation, spending money or a new vehicle. The Driven to Quit Challenge is responsible for this extra incentive to go smoke-free.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign where Ontarians can quit smoking for their chance to win. Prizes include the choice of a 2012 Ford Fusion or Ford Edge, two $5,000 CAA travel vouch-ers and seven $2,000 cash prizes. Participants are encouraged to access free support from the Society's Smokers' Helpline, which offers phone, online and text services.

Ontarians age 19 and older, who had used tobacco for at least ten months in the year 2011, can enter. Each entrant must sign up with a support buddy, who stands to win $200 cash. To be eligible for the prize draw, participants must stay smoke-free for all of March 2012.

The Driven to Quit Challenge grand prize winner for 2011, Brian Perkins, credits his family with being the biggest source of support while he quit smoking after 30 years. "I've never won anything (before)!" said Perkins, who is still smoke-free. "We've worked hard our whole life and (quitting smoking) was just the beginning of a whole lot of good things happening, my marriage is strong, our kids are healthy. This was a break for us that set a lot of positivity in motion."

To register and for details about The Driven to Quit Challenge, Ontarians can go to < www.DrivenToQuit.ca>or call the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline at 1-877-513-5333.