Stoptober Challenge

Havering encourages residents to join the Stoptober challenge and quit smoking for one month

​​The annual Stoptober event, launched in 2012 and run by Public Health England, aims to encourage as many smokers as possible to quit for the month of October. 

​The initiative is based on evidence that if smokers quit for 28 days, they are five times more likely to quit for good. In 2013, 6.5 million smokers were reached as part of the campaign.

Havering will be marking this year’s event with roadshows taking place in South Street, Romford, from Tuesday 30 September to Saturday 4 October, from 10 am to 4pm. Smokers will be able to get advice and support to quit, as well as have a lung-age test and goodie bags will be given to those who sign up to quit.

Smoking remains the biggest cause of premature death in England and accounts for more than 80,000 deaths in the UK each year, and costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year to treat smoking-related illnesses. That is why initiatives such as Stoptober are so important.

Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health, said:

“Smoking takes a huge toll, not just on public services such as the NHS and the smoker themselves, but also their families. Losing a loved-one to a smoking-related disease is devastating.

“This is a habit that can be broken so I’m glad there are initiatives such as this to provide smokers with as much support and motivation as possible. I hope many Havering residents will be signing up.”

For more information visit the Stoptober website, also, for advice and support on how to quit smoking, call the Havering Quits on 0800 0320102.