No Smoking Day targets smokers on innovative social networking sites

No Smoking Day charity marks its 25th annual campaign on 12 March 2008 and is encouraging smoker to take The Great No Smoking Day Challenge to feel healthier and fitter!

This year’s theme acknowledges quitting is not easy and invites smokers to commit to a smokefree week. The No Smoking Day website offers free quit packs, text messages and emails to go on to make a lifelong commitment. Individual smokers can also get sponsorship for quitting as well as raise funds for their favourite charity through the www.justgiving.com/smokefree website.

An another innovative way for quitters to stay quit is getting support from the No Smoking Day stop smoking forum. The forum has created an online home for smoker’s stories and for ex-smokers to share their experiences, thoughts and support. The online forum is a popular communication tool, available 24/7 with almost 3,000 members.

The charity has also embraced social networking and created a Facebook group – The Great No Smoking Day Challenge – encouraging quitters to use the support from the group. A My Space account has also been created with friends such as Lily Allen and Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace.

For other who wants to support friends and family who are quitting, you can send funky animated e-cards with a facility to add your own personal message.

Vishnee Sauntoo, Campaign Manager of the No Smoking Day charity, said: “This year we are targeting smokers directly and encouraging them to use our website and social networking sites for information and support.

“This year we are expecting more than 2 million smokers to quit so we are ready with quit packs and online support.”

For a free quit pack and further information visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk

Other sources of help

The NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline 0800 169 9 169 is a confidential support service. A specially trained person will answer your call and will listen to your needs, suggest different ways of giving up smoking, and can send you a free information pack.

Local NHS Stop Smoking Services are available in your area. Special help is available for pregnant mums and their partners who are finding it difficult to give up. To find out where your local service is, call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169 or visit the Givingupsmoking website.