“If I can do it, so can you”: Calderdale resident urges people to stop smoking

Roy, aged 45 from Brighouse, smoked for 20 years before getting support from a local stop smoking service, which helped him find “the right way” to quit.

Now, Roy is urging others in Calderdale to quit smoking as a new quit smoking campaign — the ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign — is launched.

Roy said: “I feel much better, and I have more energy since quitting.

“I also used to think that smoking helped me cope with my anxiety, but I now know that smoking increases stress and anxiety, so I’ve learnt to manage it in other ways.

“My advice to anyone who is thinking about quitting is get support from your local stop smoking service as they really helped me find the right way to quit. Believe in yourself, do it at your own pace and keep trying. If I can do it, so can you.”

The collaborative campaign has been coordinated by the Centre for Excellence in conjunction with Yorkshire Cancer Research and all 15 local authorities across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The campaign was developed and filmed in the region, and will run across TV, radio and social media with a message that “every cigarette takes 20 minutes off your life.”

Debs Harkins, Calderdale Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Smoking can have a devastating effect on your health and the health of those around you.

“This new regional campaign highlights the harm that can be caused by smoking, but also that a healthier, smoke-free life is always possible and it’s never too late to ‘turn the corner’ and start the journey to quit.

“Quit rates among people accessing local stop-smoking services are higher than average.

“There’s lots of support available in Calderdale, with a range of options to suit everyone. Whenever you decide to quit, you’re not on your own.”

Dr Farrukh Javid, Lead GP for Cancer Care in Calderdale, said: “There are profound health benefits from stopping smoking, and I always advise patients that they are three times more likely to succeed with expert support.

“Please make the most of the specialist resources provided by our local service to give you the best chance possible of achieving a smoke-free future.”

Tony Graham, Director of Retail, Services and Operations at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “It’s well known that smoking is strongly linked to lung cancer, but it is also a cause of at least 15 other types of cancer.”

“Even after a cancer diagnosis, stopping smoking can significantly improve how well treatments work, support better recovery, increase the likelihood of survival and reduce the risk of cancer coming back.

“By standing alongside our partners in this campaign, we hope more people across Yorkshire and Humber will feel supported and encouraged to take a step towards a longer, healthier life,” Tony added.

There are a range of stop-smoking options in Calderdale, including: In person; on the phone; an online quit plan; and video calls.

Yorkshire Smokefree offers up to 12 weeks free support with medication such as nicotine replacement products, licensed stop smoking medications and vapes to help you beat your addiction. Visit https://calderdale.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/ to find out more.

Get in touch with your free, local stop smoking service here https://calderdale.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/.