19 February, 2008
What's on - A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the face....
Bexley NHS Stop Smoking Service has joined forces with the Mall Bexleyheath to promote their award winning* service and offer quitters the chance to win a Mall shopping trip worth £500.
To support National No Smoking Day on the 12th March, Bexley Stop Smoking Service and the Mall Bexleyheath are offering quitters the chance to win a fantastic Mall shopping spree. Between 25th February and 25th March any Bexley residents that join the service and set a quit date by 31st March will automatically be entered into the competition providing they successfully quit.
As well as the chance to win £500, any smokers visiting to the Mall on the 12th March will also have the pleasure of finding out what they will look like in 10 years time if they carry on smoking! APRIL age progression software* will be at exclusively at the Mall on the 12th March; using revolutionary photographic software shoppers will be able to see their face in 5, 10, even 20 years time. A scary thought for all of us but especially the smokers!
Smoking accounts for 1 in 6 Bexley deaths each year. One in every two smokers die early as results of smoking and as the majority of people want to quit this is certainly a worthy cause.
Smokers are four times more likely to successfully quit if they get support from the NHS. Jo Woodvine from Bexley Stop Smoking Service explains "We can help people from all over Bexley quit smoking. We offer group sessions, work place groups, one to one support and telephone advice to help people through the difficult time". Jo is keen to encourage more Bexley locals to take advantage of the service "We all pay for the NHS - people should take advantage of it. You've got a much better chance of succeeding if you use our service rather than go it alone!"
On hearing of the Smoking Service's work, the Mall Bexleyheath was keen to get involved. "The health of local people is very important to us" says Christine Barton the Mall's Marketing Manager. "We became smoke free back in 1996 and feel strongly about this worthy cause. We hope our shoppers will come to try out the software on the 12th March - we'd be happy to supply paper bags to those that need them!"
People interested in finding out more about how Bexley NHS Stop Smoking Service can help them quit should contact Jo Woodvine on 0208 298 6161 or email stop.smoking@bexley.nhs.uk.
NOTES
Bexley Stop Smoking Service won the XXXXXX award in 2004.
Competition leaflets will be distributed in all Mall shopping bags between the dates of 25 February 2008 and 25 March 2008.
To be eligible for the competition, entrants must live or work within the Bexley borough. Anyone joining the service and setting a quit date by 31st March 2008 will automatically be entered into the competition providing they successfully quit.
Prizes are as follows: 1st prize £500 Mall gift card, 2nd prize £250 Mall gift card, 3rd prize £100 Mall gift card
Winners will be drawn on 31 May 2008. The winners will be notified by phone and names also displayed on the Bexley NHS and Mall Bexleyheath websites. Winners will be drawn at random from all those joining the Bexley Stop Smoking Service and setting a quit date by the 31st March 2008.
Further information regarding APRIL Age Progression software can be found at www.aprilage.com
For any press enquiries regarding the Bexley Stop Smoking Service or Mall competition please contact Hannah Wallington at Dr Foster Intelligence on 0207 332 8867 or email Hannah.wallington@drfoster.co.uk