Stoptober kicks off in Burgess Hill to help smokers quit

Smokefree West Sussex are kick starting Stoptober 2014 with their first ever roadshow in Burgess Hill on Saturday (September 13).

Town mayor Anne Jones will launch the event, which gives full professional support to quit smoking, in the town centre on Saturday.

The countdown to Stoptober 2014 has begun and Smokefree West Sussex are taking to the town centre to let people know that they can be offered free support to quit smoking. With under a month to go till the beginning of the 28 day challenge, Smokefree West Sussex are reaching out to the local people of Burgess Hill to encourage them to give up the habit for good.

The Stoptober campaign is a government initiative to reduce smoking in the UK and was launched in 2012 to motivate the UK’s 10 million smokers to stop smoking for 28 days. Current research shows that people who stop smoking during this time are five times more likely to remain smoke free.

The Stoptober event will be launched by the at the bandstand at 11am where stop smoking advisors will be on hand to offer advice and free carbon monoxide monitoring. Smokefree West Sussex offer a tailor made programme of support from specialist stop smoking advisors to help people quit.

Lesley Berry, Stop Smoking services manager, Smokefree West Sussex said: “Stoptober is the perfect time to motivate people to quit smoking. As smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death in West Sussex and the UK, providing free support to smokers can help to reduce the risk of people developing smoking related illnesses.

“We are very excited about the recent launch of our mobile stop smoking clinic as this will help us to take support into the heart of the community and make the service accessible to all, particularly for smokers in hard to reach areas.”

Christine Field, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at West Sussex County Council, said: “Stopping smoking is the single most important thing that any smoker can do to improve their health. Stoptober 2013 proved to be a great success and this year’s challenge could be just the push you need to try and kick the habit. Smokers are five times more likely to stay smoke free if they can give up for 28 days.”

Last year 167 people in West Sussex successfully completed the challenge with support from the stop smoking service, and this year Smokefree West Sussex hope to contribute to increasing this number by giving smokers in West Sussex the support to successfully quit.

Now in its third year, Stoptober has proven to be a successful national campaign in motivating people to quit as it creates a sense of solidarity during a difficult period.

For free support to quit smoking contact a stop smoking advisor on 0300 100 1823, text QUIT to 66777 or visit www.smokefreewestsussex.co.uk