Stop smoking campaign ‘Stoptober’ began this month inspiring people around Merseyside to quit.
The campaign, launched by the National Health Service, encourages smokers to join forces in kicking the habit together for 28 days.
It is believed that if a smoker can quit for 28 days then they are five times more likely to stop all together.
Liverpool Community Health says smoking is responsible for around 1,000 deaths each year in Liverpool, where approximately one in eight young women and one in 12 young men are smokers.
Stoptober a mass national campaign to tackle smoking, with road shows around the country offering support. The event is backed by the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK.
In a press release for the campaign, Paula Grey, Director of Public Health for Liverpool, said: “Quitting smoking is the very best thing you can do to improve your health and we know that the majority of smokers in Liverpool want to quit.”
Andrea Crossfield, Director of Tobacco Free Futures, the North West regional body for tobacco control, said: “Smoking is still Merseyside’s biggest killer, claiming the lives of around 4,700 people per year and costing society £668.7m.
“During October, there will be a lot of help available including support from local NHS Stop Smoking Services. If you’ve been thinking about quitting, now is the time to do it.”
Merseyside radio personality, Pete Price, is backing the campaign and the DJ launched the event at Walton Sports Centre this week.