News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                         April 28, 2009

Grey Bruce Health Unit congratulates local Driven to Quit winner

Flesherton resident rewarded after quitting smoking

Judy Martin of Flesherton takes home a $2,000 Canadian Tire gift card as a regional winner of the 2009 Driven to Quit Challenge. In addition to six others across the province who took home the same prize, two winners were awarded a $5,000 vacation and Rylee Richards of Thunder Bay was the grand prize winner and was awarded a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid. Each of the 10 winners’ “support buddies” received a $250 Canadian Tire gift card.

Prizes were awarded at a formal ceremony in Toronto, Monday, April 27. All winners were randomly drawn from the 22,365 Ontarians who participated in the Driven to Quit Challenge this year.

"Quitting smoking was definitely the hardest thing I've ever had to give up... just try to be as "stubborn" as you can about not lighting up. Tell yourself one more day, then one more week, and then one more month." said local winner Judy Martin.

The Driven to Quit Challenge encourages Ontario adults who are daily smokers or tobacco users to make a quit attempt with the support of a “buddy” for the chance to win a hybrid car or other prizes. Since 2006, the Driven to Quit Challenge has inspired more than 101,000 Ontarians to make a quit attempt.

“All of my friends and family are so proud of me for quitting smoking and winning a new car (through the Driven to Quit Challenge) is a great bonus!” said Rylee Richards of Thunder Bay, the 2009 Driven to Quit Challenge grand prize winner.  

Participants were required to quit smoking for the month of March 2009, to be eligible for the grand prize draw. Selected winners were urine tested to verify their smoke-free status. All eight winners of the 2008 Driven to Quit Challenge have remained smoke-free, over one year later.

Participants in The Challenge or anyone looking to quit or help someone quit are encouraged to get support through the Canadian Cancer Society Smokers’ Helpline, toll-free, at 1-877-513-5333 and by registering at smokershelpline.ca. They can also contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit for support staying smoke-free at 519-376-9420.

The Driven to Quit Challenge is hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and generous prize support from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Inc. The Driven to Quit Challenge is presented in collaboration with local public health departments across the province. The public can view a full list of winners at driventoquit.ca.

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Attachments:

News Release: Driven to Quit Grey Bruce Winner 

Fact Sheet: Driven to Quit 2009 Prize Presentation 

Photo: Driven To Quit South West Regional Winner (left to right) -Sylvia Leonard, Vice President Community Engagement, Canadian Cancer Society Ontario Division; Minister Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion; Ray Martin, Support Buddy; Catharine Gapp, Senior Manager, Health Policy and Patient Access, Johnson & Johnson; Judy Martin, South West Regional Winner, 2009 Driven to Quit Challenge

For more information:

Linda Davies

Manager, Tobacco Program

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext.1410