News

SIMCOE, DECEMBER 22, 2010 – The sixth annual Driven to Quit Challenge, hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society in collaboration with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, will return in 2011. The challenge will offer new and exciting prizes to motivate tobacco users across Ontario to stick to their New Year resolution and quit smoking.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign that encourages Ontario adult tobacco users to give up tobacco with the support of a “buddy.” Since 2006, the campaign has helped more than 130,000 entrants to make a quit attempt. Selected winners are drawn at random and are tested to verify that they have been tobacco-free.

“Quitting smoking or other forms of tobacco use is one of the best ways to improve your life and health,” said Lina Hassen, Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. “With the right tools and motivation, you can become smoke-free for life. The Driven to Quit challenge provides both the incentives and the resources.”

For help getting on track, tobacco users can access resources such as the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 and smokershelpline.ca for free support, advice and information.

Registration opens January 4, 2011. Those interested in joining the challenge can leave their e-mail at www.driventoquit.ca now for a reminder to be one of the first to register and see the exciting prizes that will be announced in the new year.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and generous prize support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc. The Driven to Quit Challenge is presented in collaboration with local public health departments across the province.

Media contact:
Lina Hassen
Health Promoter
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Ext. 3236 at either 519.426.6170 or 905.318.6623
[email protected]