First published: 16 March 2010
Source: The Shields Gazette
South Tyneside Council has teamed up with South Tyneside Primary Care Trust to launch the Team Stop Smoking Challenge, which encourages people to quit as a group.
The challenge also urges smokers to take advantage of the help and support available from local NHS stop smoking services, pharmacies and GPs across South Tyneside.
The competition involves teams setting days to quit smoking and going smoke-free for at least four weeks.
And the team with the highest number of successful quitters after a month will land a £500 prize.
Teams can either accept the cash prize to be shared between the team, or nominate a charity to benefit from the money.
Coun Emma Lewell, lead member for independent and healthy lives at South Tyneside Council, said: “Giving up smoking is a proven way of increasing your chances of having a longer life.
“One way of improving your chances of success is to get together as a team to go smoke-free.
“There’s nothing to lose by taking part in our Team Stop Smoking Challenge. Quitting smoking is in itself a massive achievement. Winning the £500 prize would be an added bonus.”
Smokers who want to enter the challenge must be over 16 and live in South Tyneside.
Each team member needs to register with a local NHS stop smoking service, pharmacy or GP, and set a quit date before April 1.
Team members then need to get proof they have successfully given up cigarettes for four weeks from the local stop smoking service.
The winning team captain will be contacted after May 31.
Many pharmacists and GPs across South Tyneside offer help to stop smoking, with specially-trained advisors on hand.
A list of services is available at www.southtyneside.info/stopsmokingchallenge
To register, or for further information, contact health development officer Justine Wilkinson on 424 7920, e-mail justine.wilkinson@southtyneside.gov.uk or visit www.southtyneside.info/stopsmokingchallenge.
Written by Verity Ward