Halton Region encourages tobacco users to turn their willpower into horsepower

Tobacco users in Halton Region can join thousands of people across Ontario in entering The Driven to Quit Challenge. Entrants who quit smoking for the month of March will not only gain a healthier lifestyle, but will also be entered to win a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, one of two $5,000 vacation getaways and one of seven $2,000 gift cards to Canadian Tire.

“Halton Region is a proud partner in promoting the Driven to Quit Challenge,” said Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. “I encourage smokers to take advantage of this extra incentive. This March, try taking a first step towards a smoke-free lifestyle.”

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division), and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. All prizes are sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Last year, over 26,500 Ontarians were motivated to make a quit attempt through The Driven to Quit Challenge. Close to 1,000 participants in last year’s contest lived in Halton.

“Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in Ontario,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “Smoking is also one of the toughest addictions to break. That’s why challenge entrants and their support buddies are encouraged to obtain additional support while attempting to quit.”

Community services available in Halton to which residents can turn for additional support and counselling, now or any time they are thinking of quitting, include Halton Region’s Stop Smoking Clinics in Milton, Acton and Burlington, available by calling 1-866-442-5866 and the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or www.smokershelpline.ca.

Daily tobacco-users may register at www.driventoquit.ca, by dialling 311 or calling the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000 or Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333. Contest entrants must be age 19 or older. Entrants are required to sign up with a support buddy, who may or may not be a tobacco user. Buddies of winners will each receive a $250 gift card to Canadian Tire. Eligible entrants will be entered into a random draw to take place March 31, 2009. Winners will be urine tested, and their buddies will be consulted to verify their tobacco-free status.

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