Charity seeks smoking success stories

FORMER smokers in Dumfries and Galloway who quit 20 years ago are being urged to share their story.

Ahead of the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s smoke-free legislation coming into force on March 26, Ash Scotland is seeking those locally who quit at the time.

They want to hear from people who stopped using tobacco about why the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces helped to motivate their quit smoking attempts and how becoming tobacco-free has benefited their life.

Local residents who have quit smoking more recently are also invited to tell the charity ahead of No Smoking Day on 11 March what influenced them to stop and if they succeeded through personal determination or with the free expert support available from NHS Scotland’s Quit Your Way services.

Chief executive Sheila Duffy said: “With two big celebrations coming up in March in the shape of No Smoking Day and then the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s leading smoke-free law, we would love to hear from people in Dumfries and Galloway about how living tobacco-free has boosted their health and personal finances.

“We are looking forward to hearing everyone’s success stories which could inspire others to try giving up smoking for the first time or to try again when they discover the methods and support that worked 20 years ago or in more recent years.”

Send a maximum of 200 words by email to: [email protected] or go via www.ashscotland.org.uk/share-your-story