Stoptober welcomed by Rochdale borough residents

Rochdale Borough Council is encouraging residents who smoke to engage with the ‘Stoptober’ campaign, which begins today, and kick the habit for 28 days.

Research suggests that if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you are five times more likely to quit for good.

Council staff and stop smoking service partners have been giving out free quit kits throughout September and help, support and advice on a local level will be provided over the course of the campaign.

But if you haven’t yet signed up it’s not too late to take part, as anyone signing up throughout Stoptober will have access to excellent free support.

Rochdale’s Catherine Johnson, 74, quit smoking last year and nearly 12 months on she is encouraging as many borough residents as possible to take part in Stoptober.

She explained: “I started smoking when I was 18 years old because my boyfriend smoked and I lived in Cyprus where the cigarettes were very cheap, which they were in 1956.

“We started smoking together and then I got addicted. I began smoking five or six a day but that gradually moved to around 20 cigarettes a day as it became a habit for me and I smoked more when I got bored.

“I decided to quit in November last year, so it is now coming up to 12 months since I quit smoking. I decided to quit for my health as I suffer with asthma and it was also getting very expensive, costing me around £60 a week.

“I arranged a visit with my local stop smoking service advisor and they gave me patches. With the support of Rochdale’s Living Well stop smoking service and the support of my family I quit first time and haven’t had a cigarette since.

“It’s not easy but it’s worth it. I keep myself busy and now I am really glad that I made the decision to quit. It used to be the first thing I did in the morning and now I don’t think about it.

“I have noticed the health benefits. My breathing has improved and I don’t get short of breath anymore. Also, I have spent my savings on my house and have been able to improve my home, buying new curtains; cushions and a recliner chair which I’m really happy with.

“I definitely recommend quitting. I feel 100 per-cent better and I’ve also improved my home. Stoptober is a brilliant idea, as there is a lot of free support out there. I would also recommend quitting through the Stop Smoking Service as they were great, you can talk to them and they support you to quit.”

Those who engage with Stoptober can choose from a range of tools to suit them, including a new stop smoking pack, a 28-day mobile phone app, text support with daily updates, quitting advice and tips for coping, as well as the encouragement and support from thousands of people through social media.

For information about local stop smoking services, visit: http://www.rochdale.gov.uk/health_and_wellbeing

For more information about the Stoptober campaign, visit: www.stoptober.smokefree.nhs.uk