News

Give a healthier heart on Valentine’s Day

SIMCOE, ON, FEB. 9, 2009 – One of the best gifts you can give yourself and a loved on Valentine’s Day is a sound heart – and you can contribute to goal that by taking the Driven To Quit Challenge in February.

“The Driven to Quit Challenge starts you on a tobacco-free path while giving you a chance to win a car or a variety of other prizes,” said Julia Hartley, Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

The challenge, co-sponsored by the Canadian Cancer Society and Ontario health units, is open to any Ontario daily tobacco user, age 19 or older, who would like to quit for the month of March. Prizes include a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, one of two $5,000 vacation getaways or one of seven $2,000 gift cards to Canadian Tire. Buddies of winners will each receive a $250 Canadian Tire gift card. Registration is open until Feb. 28 at driventoquit.ca or by calling the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333.

“You can create a spark this Valentine’s day, without the smoke,” Hartley said. “Those committed to quitting smoking can enter the challenge as participants or support buddies. The heart will not only grow fonder, but also healthier, since quitting smoking helps to reduce one’s risk of heart disease.”

The Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline is a free, confidential service providing personalized support, advice and information about quitting smoking and tobacco use. The service is available in English and French at 1-877-513-5333 and online at smokershelpline.ca.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and prize support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc.

Media contact:
Julia Hartley
Tobacco Use Prevention Health Promoter
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
519-426-6170 Ext. 3248 or 905-318-6623 Ext. 3248