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When quitters always win
More and more people are enjoying the benefits of giving up smoking for good
After 25 years of smoking, Sue Armitage felt the time was right to quit.
The working mum from west Hull began smoking while she was still at school.
She used to smoke 15 roll-ups a day.
But a year after her mum passed away, Sue (pictured right) gave up smoking for good.
"I lost my mum on New Year's Eve in 2007," says Sue.
"She always hated the fact that I smoked and wanted me to quit but I always used the excuse that I was stressed as a working single mum with three kids.
"I felt so lost after my mum died that I couldn't bear the thought of my children losing me early because of my smoking and so I made a new year's resolution to quit on the first anniversary of my mum passing away."
Sue contacted the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service and decided to go to walk-in stop smoking sessions.
As no appointments were needed she could conveniently attend them around her shifts at work.
She also received free nicotine replacement products at the walk-in sessions as well as advice on how to beat the cravings which helped her quit.
"There have been so many benefits to stopping smoking," adds Sue.
"I can walk without being out of breath and I have saved enough money from not smoking to take my eleven year old on holiday to Benidorm.
Sue was so impressed with and grateful for the support she received that she has now been trained to become a stop smoking advisor at work.
"When you're ready to quit – go for it!
There's lots of help and encouragement available and you'll never look back."
Find help to quit
Services offered by the Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service, include:
- one-to-one support at walk-in centres, which require no appointment and are local and convenient for busy lives
- the opportunity to join a stop-smoking group, which allows people to share tips and ideas on dealing with cravings
- telephone and online help which allows people to access help in the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them
- free nicotine replacement therapy including products such as patches and gum which can help double the chance of quitting smoking
Meanwhile, to mark No Smoking Day (on 10 March) stop smoking advisors will be at St Stephen's all day to give advice and information to the public about how to quit.
People who are ready to stop smoking can sign up for help on the day, and an escapologist will perform shows at the centre throughout the day to tie in with the 'break free' theme.
Quit smoking and help the whole city
More than 6,500 people in Hull have quit smoking for four weeks or more over the last three years.
If this figure rises to 7,754 by 31 March 2010, Hull will receive £414,000 of 'reward funding' from the government for meeting one of the city's Local Area Agreement targets
This money can then be spent on a range of services and initiatives by Hull City Council and its partners to improve the overall quality of life for Hull residents.
If the number of people quitting smoking for four weeks reaches a maximum target of 8,046 by the end of this month, the city will receive £690,000 of funding.
In this way, everyone gains by quitting because giving up smoking not only improves the health of the individual person quitting but also the wider community in Hull.
Mascot competition
The Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service has a new superhero mascot and your help is needed to give her a name.
A competition is open for children and young people aged 16 and under to name the mascot.
The winning name will be drawn at random with one lucky person winning a £50 toy voucher.
To enter, simply send your name for the mascot plus your name and address to Mascot Competition, Hull and East Riding Stop Smoking Service, Victoria House, Park Street, Hull HU2 8TD by 31 March.
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