Last week to qualify for The Driven to Quit Challenge Early Bird prize!

January 28, 2010 - The deadline for early bird entrants in The Driven to Quit Challenge is January 31, 2010. Early bird entrants are eligible for the chance to win a $1,000 MasterCard gift card and other great prizes, generously donated by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. This is the first year that The Challenge has offered an Early Bird prize in January.

Last week was National Non-Smoking Week. The Canadian Cancer Society and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit are encouraging Ontarians to continue their pledges to quit smoking by joining The Driven to Quit Challenge. Entrants who stay smoke-free for the month of March are eligible to win a 2010 Ford Escape hybrid, one of two $5,000 CAA vacation getaways and more. March 1, 2010, is the official quit date for anyone who enters The Challenge, including early birds.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society in support of a Smoke-Free Ontario. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is a proud partner in The Challenge.  

“In the past 3 weeks, more than 300 people from the Thunder Bay District have registered for The Challenge,” said Ken Ranta, Manager of Tobacco Programs at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.  “This number is about 4% of all early bird registrants across the province, showing that there is great interest in The Challenge from our area.” 

To register and for details about The Driven to Quit Challenge, visit www.driventoquit.ca or call the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at
1-877-513-5333. Hard copy forms are available at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. Registration is open until February 28, 2010, and the early bird deadline is January 31, 2010.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit encourages all smokers and tobacco users in the region to show their drive to quit smoking this year. Challenge entrants and their support buddies are encouraged to obtain additional support while attempting to quit. Participants can contact the Health Unit at 625-5900. Additional support is provided by the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 and www.smokershelpline.ca.

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