As part of National Non-Smoking Week, January 18-24, the Grey Bruce Health Unit encourages tobacco users to quit and possibly win a new car, cash or other prizes.

The Canadian Cancer Society's Driven to Quit Challenge offers participants, who stay smoke-free for the month of March, a chance to win a new car or one of seven $1,000 cash prizes.

The wouldurather... contest, designed specifically for young adults, offers two grand prizes of $2,500 to randomly selected contestants who successfully quit smoking. Contestants who reduce their smoking by half, refrain from smoking when drinking alcohol, or stay smoke-free, can win other prizes such as cash, tuition waivers and gift cards.

"Both campaigns are wonderful opportunities to quit and both offer support through the quitting process," says Beth Karrow, Public Health Nurse. "wouldurather...provides contestants with motivational emails and support from a buddy. Driven to Quit Challengeoffers an online quit centre and links to the Canadian Cancer Society's Smokers' Helpline."

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ontario, killing 13,000 people annually or 36 people a day. On average, it can take 30 times to quit successfully. Quit smoking services and supports help to increase a smoker's chance of becoming tobacco-free.

Details of the Driven to Quit Challenge are available at www.DrivenToQuit.ca. Registration is open until February 28. Participants must be residents of Ontario aged 19 and older who have used tobacco at least once weekly for at least 10 months in the past year and who have used tobacco at least 100 times in their life.

Details of the wouldurather... contest can be found at www.wouldurather.ca. Registration is open until January 25. This contest is open to Ontario young adults between the ages of 18-29 and registered students at publically-funded Ontario universities and colleges.

Source - Grey-Bruce Health Unit