Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Perth District Health Unit
Quitting Smoking Could Win you a Car, Cash or Other Prizes!
January 18 to 24 is National Non-Smoking Week. The Perth District Health Unit is encouraging tobacco users to make 2015 their healthiest year yet and quit smoking for the chance to win a new car or cash prizes.
Currently there are two opportunities for quitters to win in Ontario. One is Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge. If participants stay smoke-free for the month of March, they will be eligible to win a choice between three 2015 vehicles (a Nissan Sentra, a Toyota Corolla, or a Scion tC) or one of seven $1,000 cash prizes. The contest is open to residents of Ontario aged 19 and older.
Another contest is Leave the Pack Behind’s annual wouldurather… contest for young adults. Two grand prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to randomly-selected contestants who have successfully quit smoking. Other prizes, such as cash and gift cards to community and campus retailers, can be won by contestants who choose to reduce their smoking by half, refrain from smoking when drinking alcohol, or stay smoke-free. This contest is open to Ontario young adults between the ages of 18-29.
“Both contests provide wonderful opportunities to quit or reduce smoking or tobacco use,” says Dominique Bruce, Public Health Promoter.
Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario, killing 13,000 people annually or 36 people a day. On an average, it can take 30 times to quit successfully. However, accessing quit smoking services and supports can help increase a smoker’s chance of becoming tobacco-free.
Registration for the wouldurather… contest is open until January 25, 2015 and the Driven to Quit challenge is open for registration until February 28, 2015.
For more information:
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
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