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(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081125/AQTU534)
Sandy was honored for her success in quitting smoking during the firstperiod break of the Minnesota Wild game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul,Minn. More than 30 contest participants and supporters gathered in a suitedubbed the "Quitters' Box" to celebrate their smoke-free success. In additionto the $5,000 grand prize, two other contest participants received $1,000Gander Mountain gift cards and 10 more received free luxury suite tickets tothe hockey game.
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Although the $5,000 grand prize served as an incentive to quit and staytobacco-free, Sandy said her principal motivation came from her five children."They would always tell me 'please don't smoke; it's bad for you,'" she said.When asked what tips she'd give others trying to quit, she offered thisadvice: "Think positive, and try not to think about [smoking]. Just take itone day at a time."
"We were excited to present Sandy with the $5,000 grand prize and wish herluck in her quest to stay tobacco-free," said David Willoughby, ChiefExecutive Officer at ClearWay Minnesota. "While $5,000 is big motivator toquit tobacco use, the average pack-a-day smoker can save approximately $1,800every year by quitting -- and that is just the cost of cigarettes."
Willoughby added, "We encourage Minnesota tobacco users looking to quit touse QUITPLAN Services any time of the year to achieve success."
This is the first year ClearWay Minnesota and QUITPLAN Services sponsoredThe QuitCash Challenge. Minnesota smokers registered online at quitcash.com, awebsite that also featured a cost savings calculator -- demonstrating just howmuch money quitting can save a person during the contest and beyond.
Tobacco use takes its toll on all Minnesotans. Each year, 5,600Minnesotans die from tobacco-related diseases, and the cost of smoking isestimated to be $2 billion in direct health care costs. Minnesotans can findout about all the free help to quit smoking through QUITPLAN Services byvisiting quitplan.com or calling 1-888-354-PLAN (7526).
QUITPLAN(R) Services for Minnesotans include:
-- The QUITPLAN(R) Helpline -- The QUITPLAN Helpline, 1-888-354-PLAN(7526), offers telephone counseling and free nicotine patches, lozenges or gumto eligible callers.
-- quitplan.com -- The website offers free lifetime membership, helpfulquitting tools and activities and the chance to connect online with thousandsof others who have chosen to quit tobacco.
-- QUITPLAN(R) Centers -- QUITPLAN Centers provide in-person counselingin a healthcare setting, as well as access to nicotine patches, lozenges orgum.
-- Community-Tailored QUITPLAN(R) Centers -- A combination ofstop-smoking tools and culturally-tailored counseling for communities ofcolor.
-- QUITPLAN(R) at Work -- The QUITPLAN at Work program offers freeon-site professional group counseling for eligible businesses with at leasteight employees ready to stop smoking.
About ClearWay Minnesota(SM)
ClearWay Minnesota is an independent, non-profit organization thatimproves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco.ClearWay Minnesota serves Minnesota through its grant-making program,QUITPLAN(R) stop-smoking services and statewide outreach activities. It isfunded with 3 percent of the state's 1998 tobacco settlement. For moreinformation on ClearWay Minnesota or QUITPLAN Services, call 952-767-1400 orvisit clearwaymn.org.
Contact: Mike SheldonCommunications Manager (952) 767-1425
SOURCE ClearWay Minnesota
