May 25, 2007 (THUNDER BAY) - A local woman drew strength from her children to remain smoke-free even after her husband was involved in a near fatal car accident to win the mountain bike co-sponsored by Tobacco Free Thunder Bay and Cyclepath.
Maria Lichtenfeld, wife and mother of three, credits her strength to stay committed during this quit attempt, to her family. “I never smoked around my kids but they knew and had always wished I could quit.” Maria explains. “I could have caved at any time after the accident and used cigarettes as a crutch but I knew it was worth it in the long run.” Her story is like many others who have made several quit attempts but this time she got serious and told her friends and co-workers, threw out everything and kept a pamphlet for the Smokers’ Helpline on her desk. “I never called but I knew it was there and that made all the difference in the world.”
Four additional prizes have also been awarded locally. The winners of $100 restaurant gift certificates are: Shirley Edmond, Marianne Taylor, Krista Malo and Chris Redfern. Thanks to the Keg, Bistro One, Caribou and Armando’s for their continued support. These local prizes were coordinated through Tobacco Free Thunder Bay in addition to the provincial prizes.
Five hundred twenty five adults in the District of Thunder Bay registered to quit smoking for March in the province-wide Driven to Quit Smoking Challenge.
The contest was announced in January during National Non Smoking Week.
Contestants committed to stay tobacco-free for the month of March to be eligible to win. The grand prize winner, Krista Dwyer of Windsor, drove away in a brand new Acura CSX while the Northwestern regional winner, Anne Langlais of Eagle River took home a 32” Sony Widescreen HDTV.
The Driven to Quit Challenge is a smoking-cessation promotional initiative managed by the Canadian Cancer Society, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health. Promotion and prize support from Johnson & Johnson Inc.
|
Year |
Provincial Registrations |
Thunder Bay District Registrations |
|
2007 |
26,967 |
525 |
|
2006 |
25,863 |
666 |
|
2005 |
19,009 |
560 |
|
2004 |
16,000 |
439 |
|
2002 |
15,521 |
513 |
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For more information about the Driven to Quit Challenge in our community call:
Laura Craig
Coordinator of Marketing and Communication
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
Phone: (807) 625-8800
Cell: (807) 621-7863