Press Release
May 2008
SURREY DAD SWAPS CIGARETTES FOR TEXT MESSAGES
A new stop smoking text message service helped Steve Gollop (40) from Twickenham successfully ditch the fags for his kids and his health.
Steve quit a 15-a-day habit on Valentine’s Day this year and enrolled in the txt2stop service – a new initiative to help smokers quit through motivational texts and support.
Steve said: “The text messages were a great help, especially in the beginning. I found them strangely comforting and they always made me stop and think about what I was doing and why.”
Steve added: “Trudging down three flights of stairs seven to eight times a day to have a cigarette took about an hour or more out of my working day. Stopping smoking has given me so much more time! Everyone around me has seen the benefits of me not smoking. I've started exercising regularly and I generally feel better in all aspects.”
Dr Cari Free, txt2stop Principal Investigator said: “We’re looking for 5,000 volunteers to take part in this exciting trial initiative. Smokers selected for the trial will be asked to set a quit date and then they’ll receive text messages for six months. You can also still use any other form of stop smoking support such as nicotine replacement therapy too.”
txt2stop is a trial of stop smoking text messages. To volunteer, text SMOKE to 65151. There is no charge for text messages related to the txt2stop programme. You must be 16 or over to participate. For more information visit www.txt2stop.org
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1.
Txt2stop is a trial funded by the Medical Research Council and run in partnership with QUIT, the charity that helps people stop smoking.
Media enquiries:
For more information about txt2stop, please contact Dr Cari Free 0207 9588109 or Rosey Knight 0207 9272473. Out of office hours 07903 675237
For more information about QUIT, please contact Kate Spicer on 0207 553 3267
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