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Wake Up to No Smoking Day at Glastry College
By Derval Keenan, 6/1/2005 12:22:09 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF), co-ordinators of No Smoking Day in Northern Ireland, hosted an interactive exhibition and presentation on the effects of smoking and health at Glastry College, Ballyhalbert on Wednesday 9th March.
No Smoking Day aims to encourage many of the UKs 13 million smokers to give up the habit on Wednesday 9th March 2005 and this year the focus of the campaign is not just about getting rid of an old habit - it's about making a fresh start by Waking up to No Smoking Day!
UCF have been providing support and advice to people trying to stop smoking for over 25 years and have increasingly targeted this support to young people.
Carol-Ann Hewitt, Youth Smoking Project Co-ordinator in North Down and Ards, UCF said, Glastry College is an excellent example of good practice as they are currently developing a smokefree policy and they have an excellent attitude to promoting support for both pupils and staff who want to stop smoking. The aim of this event is to give young people information about the health effects of smoking and to encourage them to stop.
Guest speakers at the event included Tracy Hall, Director of Style Academy, one of Northern Irelands leading model agencies who talked about the effects of smoking on hair and skin, local dentist Hall Graham, who spoke about the effects of smoking on oral hygiene and Glentoran FC. Defender, Colin Nixon, spoke about the effects of smoking on fitness. Award winning hairdressers Paul and Leisa Stafford commented on the effects of smoking on hair.
Leisa Stafford, current Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year said,
Anyone with Blonde hair will have staining and discolouring from the nicotine in cigarettes. This affects naturally blonde and coloured hair equally so your expensive hi-lights could turn out a nasty yellow tone.
Paul Stafford, British Hairdressing Awards Hall of Fame member added, Smoking effects the hair growth constricting the circulation and essential nutrients to the hair follicle resulting in a reduction in new hair growth. This can have dramatic effects for people with naturally fine hair, which will look dull and lank. It can also cause accelerated hair loss in men.
Carol-Ann Hewitt continued, A recent study shows that 61 out of every 100 smokers regretted starting to smoke in the first place because of health reasons. Other reasons included the expense of buying cigarettes, addiction, disgust and social stigma.
Much of our smoking cessation and prevention work has been carried out with young people in schools or in a youth setting where we provide support for those who wish to stop, in a non-judgemental and informal way. We feel there is much to be gained from this as young people feel more comfortable asking questions in their own environment.
Every year in Northern Ireland, smoking causes 2,800 deaths from cancer and other illnesses. The health benefits from giving up begin within 20 minutes of stopping, and will greatly increase over the years.
This No Smoking Day the Ulster Cancer Foundation is supported by GlaxoSmithKline stop-smoking aid NiQuitin CQ®.
If you would like information or support about how to stop smoking successfully please contact Carol-Ann Hewitt, Youth Smoking Project Co-ordinator in North Down and Ards, UCF on 07711 452968 or ca.hewitt@gmail.com
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For further information please contact:
Derval Keenan, PR and Events Officer 028 9049 2007 / 0781 2525531
Or
Carol-Anne Hewitt, Youth Smoking Project Co-ordinator in North Down and Ards 07711 452968 / ca.hewitt@gmail.com
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