Are there clean air champions out there?
By Contributor
Champions are among us! If you know someone who has played a significant role in promoting tobacco free living why not give them a pat on the back and nominate them for a Smoke Free Champions for Change Award?
These Interior Health awards honour people who have made a difference in the lives of others by promoting smoke-free spaces, helping people quit smoking and preventing people from starting to smoke.
“A Smoke Free Champion for Change is someone who goes beyond their regular everyday work to reduce tobacco use and its harmful effects in their community,” says Trish Hill, senior tobacco reduction co-ordinator. “Champions show leadership and commitment, and their work often plays an important role in influencing people to change their use of tobacco.”
Nominations opened Jan. 16, and close April 13, 2012. The Smoke Free Champions for Change awards are open to both Interior Health staff and community members.
“These awards are not only about recognizing the great work that is being done to promote tobacco reduction,” says Hill, “they are also about sharing ideas and inspiring others to take action.”
Jan.15 to 21 is National Non-Smoking Week in Canada. This year’s theme is “Breaking up is hard to do.”
“Giving up tobacco is not an easy task,” says Hill. “We know that there are approximately 70,000 people in the Interior region who would like to quit smoking, Smoke free champs are those people who help make the task a little easier by promoting the benefits of being tobacco free.”
Nominating a champion is easy. Nomination forms will be available on the Interior Health website at www.interiorhealth.ca – just look for the smoke free champions link or use the search engine.
Forms can be submitted online, by fax to 250-505-7211 or by mail to Smoke Free Champions for Change, Nelson Health Unit, 2nd Floor, 333 Victoria St., Nelson BC V1L 4K3. Nomination forms must be submitted by April 13.
Six champions will be announced and awarded $50.00 gift certificates on World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2012. Those who nominated the selected champions will also be eligible for a prize.
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