Only 5 Days Left to Register for Driven To Quit Challenge!

February 23, 2010 -  A record number of smokers in our District have already registered for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Driven to Quit Challenge. Last Friday, 677 people entered the contest, matching the 2006 all-time high. The number of registrants continues to climb with only five days left to register for the Challenge.

Registration closes at midnight on Sunday, February 28.  Interested smokers can register on-line at DrivenToQuit.ca or by calling the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline until 9 p.m. at 1-877-513-5333 (EST).  

“Surveys continually show that most smokers do want to quit, and that incentives can really motivate them to do so,” says Ken Ranta, Manager of Tobacco Programs at the Health Unit. “This contest offers really great incentives so we hope more people take advantage of this opportunity before the deadline."

Challenge participants are eligible to win a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid, one of two $5,000 CAA vacation getaways or one of seven $2,000 MasterCard gift cards. Buddies of winners will each receive a $200 MasterCard gift card.

The Challenge is open to adult Ontarians who have been regular or occasional tobacco users for at least a year prior to January 1, 2010. Participants must sign up with a support buddy and quit tobacco use for the month of March. 

Experts recommend that to be successful, one must make a commitment to quit. One way a quitter can prepare is to tell their friends and family that quitting is important to them and that they need support. People who want to quit smoking, have quit smoking or are thinking about quitting can find further support at SmokersHelpline.ca and by visiting TBDHU.com.

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 generous prize support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is presented in collaboration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

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