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Take the March 1st I Quit! Challenge and conquer your cravings
By Amber Schönhaar
If you're ready to refrain from smoking, the March 1st I Quit! Challenge may just help you conquer the cravings and free yourself from tobacco use. Setting a quit date is an important part of any action plan to quit smoking. This challenge helps you do just that by providing a quit date for smokers who are already motivated to kick their smoking habit. People who quit smoking for at least four weeks from March 1st to April 1st, 2006, or support a smoker during the challenge, are eligible to win prizes.
The campaign, now in its fourth year, targets CF Regular and Primary Reserve Force members, the Cadet instructor cadre, Canadian Rangers, DND civilian employees, Non-public fund employees, and Supplementary Reserve Force members who smoke regularly. Last year, thousands of people took part in this successful smoking cessation program.
Non-smokers are also invited to get involved. As supporters, their job is to provide encouragement and advice to smokers enrolled in the program. All registered participants are eligible to win one of 112 prizes with a total cash value of more than $16,000. The 1st prize is $2,500 for the smoker who successfully quits and $1,000 for the non-smoker. Prizes are provided by CANEX and SISIP Financial Services, partners of the March 1st, I Quit! Challenge.
"We are pleased to provide financial support for the third year to this important health initiative, that helps prevent tobacco use-related diseases among CF members," says André Bouchard, President SISIP Financial Services.
Health Promotion teams on every base will organize regular activities, provide group support and information kits to smokers and their supporters who decide to take this important step.
Last year 3,582 participants took part, including 2,388 supporters who encouraged and provided advice to 1,194 smokers.
To register, simply fill out the form available on-line at www.cfpsa.com/health (deadline February 28) or contact the Health Promotion director at any CF base/wing or unit.
Ms. Schönhaar is a freelance writer with CFPSA.
