Hackney,
02
March
2015
|
16:00
Europe/London

Hackney smokers urged to be quitters on No Smoking Day

Smokers in Hackney are being urged by former addicts to take the first step in giving up cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day.

While studies show that two-thirds of smokers want to quit, more than one in five adults continue to smoke in Hackney.

The theme of this year’s No Smoking Day, on Wednesday 11 March, is ‘Proud to be a Quitter’. Hackney Council has created a series of inspirational ex-smokers’ stories to highlight the life-changing benefits of quitting, and to give current smokers the belief that they too can stop.

Specialist stop smoking advisers from Hackney’s Stop Smoking Service will also be out and about on the day at Ridley Road market, from 10am-4pm, the Redmond Community Centre, Heron GP Practice and Cedar GP Practice from 11.30am-4.30pm.

Hackney resident Ermira Alishani stopped smoking eight weeks ago. She says she is proud to be a Hackney quitter because “stopping smoking changes everything. I believe you have to care for yourself before you can really care for others. Now that I am caring for myself by stopping smoking, I have much more energy and time for my family.”

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council
In life we’re told never to give up, to keep going, but when it comes to smoking, being a ‘quitter’ is a good thing. Most smokers want to stop, but can find it a real challenge. No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity to quit and know that thousands of others across the country will be joining you.
Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture, Hackney Council

The annual campaign is run by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and encourages hundreds of thousands of smokers to make a quit attempt on No Smoking Day.

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said: “Giving up smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health, and that’s why the British Heart Foundation runs No Smoking Day. We’re encouraging smokers to mark Wednesday 11 March in their calendars and take the first step towards a smoke-free life.”

For free, local support to stop smoking, contact Hackney’s Stop Smoking Service on 0800 046 9946 or 020 3316 1085 or email smokefreehackney@nhs.net. Read about our proud Hackney quitters on the Smokefree Hackney website. You can also get the latest news via Twitter @SmokefreeHckny

Download the free One Day Quit tool to help you through the first day of your stopping journey.

Find further information about the national No Smoking Day campaign.