New ex-smokers across Cheshire and Merseyside celebrate first steps towards a smokefree life

Month long stop smoking campaign hailed as huge success

28-day quitters will add years to their lives and money to their wallets

Over 9,000 people across Cheshire and Merseyside joined a quarter of a million people in the UK choosing to turn their back on cigarettes this month in the mass 28-day stop smoking challenge, Stoptober. In Merseyside, 7187 people signed up along with 1,288 people in Cheshire West and Chester. 

Research shows that stopping smoking for 28 days can extend your life by up to one week if you remain smokefree.

The new ex-smokers across Cheshire and Merseyside are celebrating their first steps towards a healthier, smokefree life, and if they succeed in quitting for good, they could collectively add as much as 538 years of life to the population.

Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and lead on tobacco control for Cheshire and Merseyside said “It’s great news that so many people have decided to try and quit. We know it can be hard. If you missed Stoptober or found it difficult to stay smokefree in October, it’s never too late to start your own 28 day quit attempt. Although Stoptober has ended there is still a wide range of support available.

“For example our local stop smoking services are doing a great job, and last year thousands of people successfully quit with their help. Research shows that by using local stop smoking services you are four times more likely to quit than going it alone, so please get in touch for support.”

The average smoker has 13 cigarettes a day, which equates to 364 cigarettes every four weeks. Stoptober would have saved them £141 each over four weeks, and if they remain smokefree, they could save £423 by Christmas and £1,696 in a year. 

Collectively, if all Stoptober participants in the North West quit for the 28 days this month they would have saved over £3.9million. 

Andrea Crossfield, Director of Tobacco Free Futures, the North West regional body responsible for tackling tobacco said “Stoptober has been a huge success. As well as saving money, everyone that managed to stay smokefree will already be experiencing significant physical improvements including a better sense of smell and taste and more energy. Longer term, these quitters will reduce their risk of heart disease and lung cancer as well as protecting others from their secondhand smoke. Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your health and bank balance today.”

Tobacco Free Futures has supported local authorities with the promotion of the national stop smoking campaign in the North West. Stoptober is backed by a huge number of supporters - including celebrities, charities, sports clubs and stop smoking services - Stoptober has helped thousands of people try and stay free from cigarettes through support packs, a 28 day app, social media activities and tips and advice from a host of celebrity well-wishers.