1/2 Every cigarette takes around 20 minutes off a life - but quitting can give that time back.
The new phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign starts today to highlight the benefits of stopping smoking: improved health, reduced stress, financial savings, and more time with the people who matter.
#SmokingSurvivors returns tomorrow across multiple media channels in the NE. Real local stories showing the harm from smoking – and the benefits of stopping. Every cigarette takes around 20 minutes off life, but quitting gives life back.
Find out more at freshquit.co.uk
#SmokeFreeFuture
1/2 February is Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month. The risk is linked to both tobacco and alcohol - and much higher for people who both smoke and drink.
Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign highlights the serious harm smoking can cause, including cancer.
Some of our incredible people who share their stories to support others to stop smoking.
Real credible messengers. Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign shares authentic stories from NE people who smoke — the harms they faced and the hope they found through quitting. Find tips, local support & more on FreshQuit 🔽
www.freshquit.co.uk
Cathy thought smoking helped her cope with stress.
She realised it only made it worse, but stopping helped.
Cathy is one of the faces of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign. Support and encouragement can help people trying to stop, and turn a new year into a #SmokefreeFuture @smokefreenhsne.bsky.social
The latest phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign is back. Real stories show the serious harm smoking causes - from heart disease to cancer. Every cigarette takes around 20 minutes off your life. Stopping reduces harm and gives life back, no matter how many times you’ve tried.
Smoking Survivors Cathy and Sue will be on BBC Radio Newcastle between 11:15am & 11:45am sharing their powerful stories. Both were diagnosed with cancer caused by smoking - and now they’re speaking out to help others to stop. #SmokingSurvivors #SmokeFreeFuture
Smoking causes up to 16 types of cancer.
Cathy has survived lung and kidney cancer.
Quitting gave her the strength to fight back and improved her quality of life – she’s urging others to stop and see the benefits.
Watch her story 🔽 #SmokingSurvivors #SmokeFreeFuture
Just one cigarette a day raises risks of heart attack and stroke. John is now smokefree after decades of smoking. His story is part of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign. Every quitter inspires others, showing a #SmokeFreeFuture is possible 🔽 @ashorguk.bsky.social
Cathy from County Durham says quitting smoking has helped her feel calmer & more in control. “It doesn’t make stress go away.”
Cathy now realises how powerful the addiction was trapping her in a cycle of stress & anxiety. #SmokingSurvivors @ashorguk.bsky.social
2/2 These findings come as we launch the next phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign – showing how smoking harms lives & health across the NE.
John and Cathy have spoken about how smoking damages people’s ability to work. Read our press release 🔽 @ashorguk.bsky.social
shorturl.at/oRYO7
1/2 A NEW study from @cancerresearchuk.org
shows smoking is depriving 700,000 adults in England & their families of jobs, income & stability due to ill health.
In early 2025, 11.3% of working-age adults who smoked were out of work due to long-term illness or disability. #SmokingSurvivors
1/2 Today we launch the next phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign. John had a heart attack at 48. Cathy was diagnosed with lung cancer at 49. Both caused by smoking. Their powerful stories are helping others to quit.
Watch John’s TV advert here 🔽
#SmokeFreeFuture @ashorguk.bsky.social
2/3 John realised he had to quit because he wanted to be around to see his grandchildren grow up. As part of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign – John is encouraging people to try to quit.
youtu.be/YgfrCkHqyok
2/2 Smoking is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, responsible for around 15,000 deaths in the UK each year. John had a heart attack at just 48 due to smoking—now, he's speaking out so other families don’t go through the same. #QuitSmoking #SmokingSurvivors
youtu.be/YgfrCkHqyok
1/2 "I remember asking the doctor, ‘Am I going to be alright?’ He just looked at me and said, ‘I can’t say. I can’t promise you that.’" John from Stockton had a heart attack and feared he wouldn’t be there for his family.
Now, he's urging others to quit before it's too late. #SmokingSurvivors
2/2 As part of the next phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign - you can see John’s story on Look North BBC 1 at 6:30pm tonight. #NSD2025
@ashorguk.bsky.social
1/2 It’s #NoSmokingDay! Smoking doubles your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke - even one cigarette a day raises the risk. #SmokingSurvivor John from Stockton suffered a heart attack & feared he wouldn’t be around for his family. 💔 #SmokingSurvivors #NSD2025
2/2 John realised he had to quit because he wanted to be around to see his grandchildren grow up. As part of the next phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign – John is encouraging people to try to quit and even if you don’t succeed, treat it as a blip. You will get there. @ashorguk.bsky.social
Smoking doubles your risk of heart disease or stroke - but even one cigarette a day is dangerous. John from Stockton had a heart attack and quit for his family.
For #NoSmokingDay he urges others to keep trying.
Read his story: bit.ly/4kENeo3
#SmokingSurvivors
@teessidelive.bsky.social
2/2 John realised he had to quit for his family-he wanted to be around to see his grandchildren grow up.
As part of the next phase of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign – John is encouraging people to try to quit and even if you don’t succeed, treat it as a blip. You will get there.
bit.ly/43mU8bi
“I could have died, but I’m so happy to be still here.”
Damon from Hartlepool suffered a heart attack at the age of 46 because of smoking.
He doesn’t want that happening to other people and that’s why he is supporting our #SmokingSurvivors campaign.
@ashorguk.bsky.social
youtu.be/4-0-h8DkWIo
“Don’t let smoking ruin your life.” Smoking survivor Tony from Middlesbrough was diagnosed with throat cancer aged just 52. He is encouraging people to quit smoking as part of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign.
Watch Tony’s story here. 🔽
@ashorguk.bsky.social
youtu.be/X3RDy79JAjY
Smoking is one of the biggest killers in the NE – 125,000 deaths and counting since the year 2000. Prevention saves lives and reduces pressures on the #NHS.
Dr Neil O Brien, Exec Medical Director for @NENC_NHS is backing our #SmokingSurvivors campaign.
youtu.be/1Q20wZkGjfQ
@ashorguk.bsky.social
“Quit smoking for your family.” Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign is highlighting the harm of tobacco on families. Sadie from Hartlepool lost her beloved dad Denham to COPD in 2021, caused by smoking. Sadie doesn’t want that happening to more families across the North East.
@ashorguk.bsky.social
“You’ve got to keep trying to quit.”
We're so proud to celebrate Sue Mountain - one of the faces of our #SmokingSurvivors campaign.
Sue received a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours List for services to public health and supporting people to stop smoking. 👏 @ashorguk.bsky.social
Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign shows the tragic human loss caused by tobacco. Debbie and Sadie lost their beloved Denham from COPD from smoking. They don’t want it happening to more families.
Make 2025 the year you put smoking behind you.
#SmokefreeFuture
youtu.be/g661wZp9sPM
Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign shares real-life stories of people like Sue from South Shields to help others put smoking behind them. It's really important in 2025 we keep supporting people to quit.
It's never too late to quit smoking🔽
#SmokefreeFuture
Our #SmokingSurvivors campaign shares real-life stories of people like Sue from South Shields to help others put smoking behind them. It's really important we keep supporting people to quit. It's never too late to quit smoking🔽
#SmokefreeFuture
1/ These are just some of the remarkable North East people who have so far featured in our #SmokingSurvivors campaign. They have all shared their powerful stories to help people put smoking behind them for their health, family and finances.
