Bradford nurse a step closer to holiday prize
Years of helping patients suffering with smoking related diseases has seen Bradford nurse Julie Tucker quit the cigarettes for good.
The 51-year-old is now in with a chance of winning a holiday after entering her story in the search for inspirational quitters across the UK for the European Smoke Free Awards 2009.
Run by UK stop smoking charity QUIT ®and the European Network of Quitlines, each entrant into the awards has a chance to win a trip to Barcelona for the awards ceremony, and compete with winners across Europe for a prize of €5,000 in holiday vouchers.
Julie, who works as a healthcare assistant for a district nursing team, started smoking at 11-years-old to fit in with her friends. After smoking 20-30 cigarettes a day for 41 years, Julie finally decided it was time to quit for good.
She said: “As a nurse, I couldn’t really practice what I was preaching. I have seen people with lung cancer, throat cancer and people with part of their tongues missing.
“Having seen the devastation cigarettes can do to people’s health and well being, I decided that enough was enough and thought it was about time I gave up.”
Another big factor in mum of three Julie’s decision to stop smoking was money. “It’s very expensive now,” she said.
Julie quit in June, and said: “Since I stopped smoking, a whole new world has opened up for me. I don’t have to worry about smelling like an old ashtray, my clothes don’t have that odour of tobacco on them anymore, my skin has improved, my purse always has money in it, and I feel fitter than I have ever done.”
The UK winner wins a weekend stay in Barcelona in February 2010 for the awards ceremony, with the overall European winner scooping €5,000 holiday vouchers. The overall European runner up wins €2,000 holiday vouchers.
The closing date for entries into the competition is December 31, 2009, so there is still plenty of time to enter yourself or nominate someone.
To enter, visit www.quit.org.uk or contact the Quitline on 0800 00 22 00. Rules of entry are on the website.
Photographs available on request
The European Smoke Free Awards 2009 are supported by Pfizer, which has provided financial support for the awards programme.
The European Network of Quitlines has full editorial control of all materials relating to the European Smoke Free Awards and full control over the selection criteria and selection of finalists and winners.
For more information about the awards, contact Nicola Orchard at QUIT on 020 7469 0414 or email n.orchard@quit.org.uk |
