Rev up and give up with the Ipswich Witches!

The Ipswich Witches Speedway team are throwing their support behind a new campaign to encourage their fans to rev up and give up smoking.

The Suffolk Stop Smoking Service has teamed up with the well-known speedway team to offer a whole range of incentives to give fans the chance to give up smoking for good.

Former British speedway champion Chris Louis, who helps run the team with his father at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich is delighted to be forming the new partnership.

He said: “Speedway riders may be fit and healthy and need tremendous stamina but they know every time they go out on the track they can damage their health. It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health and if there is any way we can help in getting over the message we are happy to be involved.

“Speedway fans are no different from anyone else who wants to quit smoking. It’s their choice to smoke but it’s also their choice to give up and we know that with a bit of help and support, smokers are up to four times more likely to be successful in quitting.

“Hopefully we can make it a real team effort by working with the Suffolk Stop Smoking Service to highlight the dangers of smoking and keeping that message out there.”

Ipswich’s very own speedway star Scott Nicholls agrees. He said: “I have never smoked but I know how hard it can be to give up because my mum still smokes even though she has tried a few times to stop. Some people find it extremely hard to stop smoking and so if there is any help, advice or words of encouragement out there for people who want to give up that can only be a good thing.”

Speedway fans can phone 0800 085 6037 quoting ‘Speedway’, and will then be booked into one of the service’s stop smoking sessions.

“If they then manage to stay quit for four weeks, they will be eligible for one of the many incentives being offered by the Witches,” said Tracy Green, specialist stop smoking advisor. “These include best views of the race action from the centre green and VIP access.”

Mr Louis added: “We feel that this is a really good cause to support. Smoking is a hard habit to kick but we hope that by teaming up with the Suffolk Stop Smoking Service we can help to hammer home the message that with a little help and support you are far more likely to quit for good.”

Smoking facts:
· Three quarters of smokers say they would like to quit if they could but find it hard to do it alone
· 58% of smokers say they want to quit in the next 12 months
· 86% of smokers mention at least one health reason for why they want to quit
· 60% of current smokers have made a serious attempt to quit in the past five years
· 53% of smokers have sought out some kind of help or advice for quitting

Issued by the NHS Suffolk Communications Team on 01473 770014
For more information about NHS Suffolk visit www.suffolk.nhs.uk