No Smoking Day Targets Smokers On Innovative Social Networking Sites, UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 06 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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No Smoking Day charity marks its 25th annual campaign on 12 March 2008 and is encouraging smokers to take The Great No Smoking Day Challenge to feel healthier and fitter!

This year's theme acknowledges quitting is not easy and invites smokers to commit to a smokefree week. The No Smoking Day website offers free quit packs, text messages and emails to go on to make a lifelong commitment. Individual smokers can also get sponsorship for quitting as well as raise funds for their favourite charity through the JustGiving.com website.

An another innovative way for quitters to stay quit is getting support from the No Smoking Day stop smoking forum. The forum has created an online home for smoker's stories and for ex-smokers to share their experiences, thoughts and support. The online forum is a popular communication tool, available 24/7 with almost 3,000 members.

The charity has also embraced social networking and created a Facebook group - The Great No Smoking Day Challenge - encouraging quitters to use the support from the group. A My Space account has also been created with friends such as Lily Allen and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace.

For other who wants to support friends and family who are quitting, you can send funky animated e-cards with a facility to add your own personal message.

Vishnee Sauntoo, Campaign Manager of the No Smoking Day charity, said: "This year we are targeting smokers directly and encouraging them to use our website and social networking sites for information and support.

"This year we are expecting more than 2 million smokers to quit so we are ready with quit packs and online support."

For a free quit pack and further information visit http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk

- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,126 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st - 25th February 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

- No Smoking Day (NSD) is organised by a charity of the same name and is funded by a coalition of governmental and voluntary sector organisations with an interest in health.

- NSD aims to help people who want to stop smoking by creating a supportive environment for them, and by highlighting the many sources of help available to people who want to quit.

- Three quarters of smokers would like to stop and on NSD over a million try. NSD isn't just about the Day. Stopping smoking requires much planning, encouragement, support and motivation. Helping others to prepare to quit can be done year round, but the Day provides an excellent focus and motivation for many smokers to stop.

- A smoker who wishes to make a quit attempt simply needs to visit http://www.justgiving.com/smokefree and follow the simple online instructions.

- Smokers can either choose to give up and raise money for a charity of their choice individually or in a group e.g. smokers could team up with their friends or with colleagues at work and give up together.

http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk

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