Way to go, Simcoe-Muskoka! More than 2,100 local residents entered this year’s Driven to Quit challenge to try to quit smoking for good. Participation in the contest was up by more than 400 entries from 2007 and once again we had the second-highest number of residents provincewide participating. Only Toronto had more entries.

Credit for this success goes to the many community businesses and health-care partners who said yes without hesitation when we came asking for help to promote the challenge. They responded by handing out information and quit tips, donating advertising sign space for contest promotions, including information and encouragement in employee pay envelopes, in lunch and staff rooms, at the pharmacy counter and in waiting rooms, via newspaper and radio coverage and at municipal facilities such as recreation centres and libraries.

On behalf of every tobacco user who is trying to break their addiction, we thank you so much for your support and encouragement. With your help we can look forward to healthier residents and healthier communities. We’d also like to congratulate everyone who has made a quit attempt, whether or not you were able to stay tobacco-free during March. If you are still smoke-free, fabulous. Keep it up. If you didn’t manage to stay quit this time, don’t give up. The secret is to keep trying. You can quit with practice and support.

Joanne McFarland RN, BSc.N,
Public Health Nurse,
Tobacco Program,
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit