Council urges smokers to quit on March 13

Ballymena Borough Council’s Leisure Services and Environmental Health Departments and Workplace Smoking Cessation Service (WSCS) are supporting the 30th national No Smoking Day campaign.

Leisure Services Manager, Terry Diamond said: “As part of Seven Towers Leisure Centre’s commitment to helping residents of Ballymena address their health and wellbeing, members of the leisure centre staff have been trained to be supportive and signpost interested individuals to their local quit smoking services.

Seven Towers Leisure Centre will be holding an interactive No Smoking evening between 5.30pm-7.30pm on Wednesday in the main reception area.

Ballymena running club, a practice nurse and members of staff from the leisure centre will all be on hand to answer any questions and staff will advise on where to find local ‘quit smoking’ services.

Some practical activities will take place in the reception area where members of the public can have their height and weight taken and BMI worked out by one of the centres Fitness Instructors.

Along with this, blood pressure and lung age tests will be carried out by professional medical staff to help smokers quit cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day.

Any member of the public that signs up to the No Smoking scheme will receive a FREE fitness suite induction (age restrictions apply & offer valid until end of June 2013).

As they progress through the scheme and reach week 4 without smoking Quitters will qualify for a FREE family swim pass. The quitter can obtain a note from their Pharmacist, complete with pharmacist stamp to qualify for the family swim. This letter/note will then be handed to reception and in return a free family swim will be granted.

Terry Diamond said: “One of the biggest incentives for smokers to quit comes from considering the real amount of money they spend on cigarettes and thinking about what themselves and their family could afford if they were to give up for good.

“By tallying up the exact amount of money that could be saved, smokers can work towards an actual goal – be it a new pair of shoes, a gym membership or a new TV”, said Terry.

He added: “No Smoking Day provides the perfect opportunity for people to join in making a quit attempt with others from Ballymena attempting to quit on the same day. This is why Ballymena Borough Council’s efforts in spreading the word about the support available are so important, to help many take their first steps towards a healthier and wealthier, smoke free life.”

The annual health campaign, run by the British Heart Foundation, is now in its 30th year and helped more than 760,000 people quit smoking last year and inspired another 1.5 million to seek out information to help them quit in future.

For more information on the benefits of quitting as well as top quit tips, visit www.want2stop.info

Ballymena Council’s No Smoking Day campaign has been supported by Workplace Smoking Cessation Service www.want2stop.info/workplace