Press Release

May 01, 2008

No car, but better health for local Driven To Quit participants

SIMCOE MUSKOKA – The Driven to Quit grand prize Toyota Prius may not have been won locally, but the 2,119 area residents who did make quit attempts in the annual contest came away one step closer to becoming smoke free along with more than 24,000 fellow Ontario residents.

Dianna Watson of Copper Cliff, a 30-year smoker, was the grand prize winner of the car. She credits the contest with giving her the push she needed to break her addiction for good.

“Quitting has really changed me,” Watson said. “I have gone back to school and my health is a lot better.”

Research shows that within 24 hours of stopping smoking the risk of heart attack begins to decrease. Two to three weeks after quitting, circulation improves and lung capacity increases up to 30 per cent. Within nine months normal lung function returns and by the one-year mark, the risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who smokes.

“There is absolutely no downside to making a quit attempt,” says Jennifer Tonn, a public health nurse in the health unit’s tobacco program. “Every day you are smoke free your health improves. You will save lots of money and you are a good role model for children and youth.”

Tonn adds that anyone who has tried to quit but not succeeded should try again.

“Quitting is a process,” she said. “It can take a number of attempts before you quit for good. But if you keep trying you will do it. In fact, ongoing health surveys in Simcoe Muskoka show we now have more former smokers than people who smoke.”

The contest winner for the Central East Area which includes Simcoe County and Muskoka is Richard Pare of Mount Albert. He wins a $3,000 gift card from Future Shop. His support buddy, Marina Gullo, wins a $250 gift card.

Other regional winners include: Maureen Richardson, Toronto Region; Kyle Lilley, Central West Region; Gary Ashbee, Northwest Region; Tim Miller, Southwest Region; Dale Gervais, North East Region. A complete list of winners and their buddies is available on the driventoquit.ca website.

Help is also just a call away for anyone ready to make a quit attempt. Call the Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or the health unit’s Your Health Connection at 1-877-721-7520 Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.