Bath City football fans who smoke were encouraged to take on the upcoming Stoptober challenge at last weekend’s home match against Hungerford Town.
The match, which took place at Twerton Park on Saturday, provided the backdrop to the local launch of this year’s Stoptober campaign.
Stoptober is England’s 28-day stop smoking attempt and has proved hugely successful since its launch in 2012, driving more than one million quit attempts to date.
Fans at the match were able to chat to the Virgin Care Stop Smoking Team about taking up the Stoptober challenge. They also provided pre-match and half time entertainment with mascots, Big Cig and the Pig taking each other on in a big show down.
Dan Ball, Bath City defender said: “As a player I always look to the crowd to help lift the team when we need it – hearing them cheer us on keeps us working hard and striving for that next goal.
“Health and fitness comes with the job, but we need our fans to look after themselves too. If stopping smoking means that we keep our fans cheering even louder then I’m behind that, one hundred per cent.”
Although on the decline 13.4% of adults in Bath & North East Somerset still smoke. Smoking remains the nation’s biggest killer with half of long-term smokers dying prematurely from a smoking disease.
However, research shows that if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you are five times more likely to stay smoke free for good.
Bruce Laurence, Director of Public Heath, Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “If you smoke, quitting is the best goal you’ll score this year, and we can help you get the ball over the line.
“And while you’re thinking about it, you can do your heart and lungs an immediate favour by switching to vaping, which is already far safer than smoking.”
Along with the health benefits, quitting saves the average smoker more than £228 a month and almost £3,000 a year, based on £7.50 for average pack of 20 cigarettes.
More information on joining the biggest stop smoking challenge of its kind can be found on the Public Health pages on the B&NES website.
There is also a link to the main Stoptober site ,where you can find useful tools such as an app, daily e-mails and lots of encouragement from the Stoptober online community on Facebook.
People wishing to quit nicotine completely or switch from smoking to using an e-cigarette, vaping, can get expert face-to-face advice and support from our local stop smoking services.
Just call 0300 247 0203 or email: bathnes.thehub@virgincare.co.uk
Stoptober 2018 starts on Tuesday 1st October and runs for 28 days.
