Whats happening

Carlisle United’s mascot Olga the Fox has signed up to a major Smokefree Northwest campaign ahead of No Smoking Day on March 10.

Olga the Fox met up with Percy the Smokefree Penguin when a specialist stop smoking bus parked up in Morrisons carpark and then Carlisle town centre to encourage smokers to quit. Percy the Smokefree Penguin is the star of a recent Smokefree North West television advertising campaign ‘One Way Street’.

John Nixon, Managing Director of Carlisle United, said “This is a great campaign and we are happy to give it our full support.”

Stop smoking advisors and respiratory nurses were onboard the specialist bus handing out advice to smokers on how to stop. They also carried out tests to show the damage smoking can do to people’s health. Tests were also available to show people what damage smoking can do to their lungs, including as a spirometry test, which measures the amount of air someone can blow out of their lungs, and carbon monoxide readers.

Su Sear is a Public Health partnership specialist for NHS Cumbria. She said: “Giving up smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health. However, going cold turkey is not easy and you are far more likely to successfully quit with NHS support rather than going it alone.

“No Smoking Day is a great time to give up smoking. I would urge all smokers in Cumbria to get in touch with NHS Cumbria’s stop smoking services. Get ready to quit on No Smoking Day in the knowledge there is support to help you.”

Fay Watson, Programme Manager for Tobacco Control at Cumbria Public Health Network, added: “If you smoke and want to quit, there is lots of support available on the NHS. No Smoking Day is a good time to quit smoking for good.”

For confidential help and support to quit smoking contact NHS Cumbria’s Stop Smoking Service on 01900 324222 or text ‘QUIT’ to 82540 or visit a participating pharmacy for stop smoking advice.

Tags: No Smoking Day