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Last chance to win auto in quit-smoking challenge

SIMCOE, ON, FEB. 17, 2010 – This is smokers’ last chance to join more than 200 other local residents in a bid to win a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid automobile in the Driven to Quit Challenge being promoted by the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

“Deadline for entries in this quit-smoking challenge is Feb. 28 and at press time we had a whopping 211 people from Haldimand and Norfolk counties already entered,” said the Health Unit’s Fiaza Siddiqi, Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter. “We’d love to add to that total.”

To qualify to win any of the challenge’s prizes, entrants have to quit smoking for the month of March. Top prize is a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid. Two $5,000 vacation getaways and a $2,000 MasterCard gift card can also be won.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society, and promoted by local health units, in support of a smoke-free Ontario. Ontario adults enter with a support buddy and pledge to quit smoking or quit other tobacco use during the month of March. Entrants who remain smoke free for the month have the chance to win the new automobile or one of the other prizes through draws. “Buddies” can enter to win a $200 MasterCard gift card. Prizes are sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

“We’re hoping people will take the opportunity to get in on this exciting opportunity over the next few days,” Siddiqi said. “This challenge is a great incentive to quit smoking.”

Ontarians aged 19 and over can register online, or print a hard copy of the entry form, by visitingwww.DrivenToQuit.ca. Alternatively, people can contact the Health Unit for a form by calling extension 3248 at either 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623. Challenge entrants and their support buddies are encouraged to obtain additional support in attempting to quit by contacting the Health Unit. Additional support is provided by the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 andwww.SmokersHelpline.ca.

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Media Contact:
Fiaza Siddiqi
Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
519-426-6170 Ext. 3248 or 905-318-6623 Ext. 3248