Quit & Get Fit encourages people to quit smoking by using physical exercise to help them succeed
HAMILTON, ON, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - To celebrate "Weedless Wednesday" the Ontario Lung Association launched its acclaimed province-wide smoking cessation program, Quit & Get Fit, today at Hamilton steel giant, ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
The company, which employs more than 5,000 people, is offering Quit & Get Fit as part of its new employee wellness initiative that began on January 2, 2012. "Weedless Wednesday" is part of National Non-Smoking Week (NNSW), which was established in 1977 by the Canadian Council for Tobacco Control (CCTC).
Now in its third year, Quit & Get Fit, funded by the Government of Ontario, highlights the benefits of exercise to help someone quit smoking. The program is based on research that shows physical activity can help reduce cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking. For more information, visit: http://www.quitandgetfit.ca
"We are pleased to be able to offer the Ontario Lung Association's Quit & Get Fit program to our employees as part of our comprehensive health and wellness program," says Graham Browne, Vice President Human Resources and Corporate Administration at ArcelorMittal Dofasco."The program is being integrated into our Personal Best initiative that encourages employees to improve their health. This is a unique partnership that will help employees who want to quit smoking and ultimately improve their health."
"We are thrilled that ArcelorMittal Dofasco has chosen to be one of our Quit & Get Fit sites," says Andrea Stevens Lavigne, Vice President of Provincial Programs, Ontario Lung Association. "A workplace cessation program provides an effective setting to reach tobacco users on a regular basis, while benefiting employers in the areas of lost productivity and employee absence due to illness from smoking.
"Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease in our province, and is responsible for $5.8 billion in productivity losses" says Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "Quit & Get Fit is an innovative way to help people break their addiction to nicotine in a healthy and fun environment. By supporting efforts to quit in the workplace, companies like ArcelorMittal Dofasco are helping to improve the health of Ontarians and the health of our economy."
In addition to ArcelorMittal Dofasco and two YWCA locations in Hamilton, Ontario Lung Association is partnering with a variety of fitness facilities in 11 other communities across the province to offer members and non-members the opportunity, at no charge, to participate in a Quit & Get Fit program. These communities include Kapuskasing, Lindsay, Mooretown, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Petrolia, Port Dover, Sarnia, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Windsor.
All participants in the Quit & Get Fit program receive a series of free personal training sessions that combine smoking cessation support with fitness and health information. Ontario Lung Association and its partners believe that this combination will help motivate and support people to persevere in their quit attempts as well as kick-start a healthier 2012. Quit & Get Fit will run until March 10, 2012
Another program that ArcelorMittal Dofasco employees, Quit & Get Fit participants, and all Ontarians who are planning to quit smoking are encouraged to access is the Canadian Cancer Society's The Driven to Quit Challenge. Launched earlier this month, the Challenge invites tobacco users to break their addiction for the chance to win a new car, a dream vacation or cash. For details about The Driven to Quit Challenge, Ontarians can go to www.DrivenToQuit.ca. Registration is open until February 29, 2012.
About the Ontario Lung Association
The Lung Association is a registered charity that provides information, education and funding for research to improve lung health. We focus on the prevention and control of asthma, chronic lung disease, tobacco control as well as healthy air and the effects of pollution on lung health. For information on lung health, call our Helpline at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), which is staffed by certified respiratory educators, or visit www.on.lung.ca. You can also follow us on Twitter @OntarioLung and Facebook.
Image with caption: "To celebrate "Weedless Wednesday", Ontario Lung Association today launched its acclaimed province-wide smoking cessation program, Quit & Get Fit at Hamilton steel giant, ArcelorMittal Dofasco. The company, which employs more than 5,000 people, is incorporating the Quit & Get Fit program as part of its new employee wellness initiative. Pictured at the launch (front row: l-r): Graham Browne, VP, Human Resources & Corporate Administration, ArcelorMittal Dofasco; Nancy Korstanje, Senior Manager, Community Integration, Canadian Cancer Society, Smoker's Helpline; Andrea Stevens Lavigne, VP, Provincial Programs, Ontario Lung Association; Maureen Crane and Ken Murray, ArcelorMittal Dofasco employees. (Back row l-r): Lindsay Knight, Fitness and Lifestyle Programs, Health Systems Group; Ryan Wight and Norma Bonner, ArcelorMittal Dofasaco employees. (CNW Group/The Lung Association Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120118_C5059_PHOTO_EN_9034.jpg
Image with caption: "To celebrate "Weedless Wednesday", Ontario Lung Association today launched its acclaimed province-wide smoking cessation program, Quit & Get Fit at Hamilton steel giant, ArcelorMittal Dofasco. The company, which employs more than 5,000 people, is incorporating the Quit & Get Fit program as part of its new employee wellness initiative. Pictured at the launch: (l-r): Andrea Stevens Lavigne, VP, Provincial Programs, Ontario Lung Association and Graham Browne, VP, Human Resources & Corporate Administration, ArcelorMittal Dofasco. Back row: Lindsay Knight, Fitness and Lifestyle Programs, Health Systems Group. (CNW Group/The Lung Association Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120118_C5059_PHOTO_EN_9035.jpg
For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Ellen Woodger Communication Specialist The Gabor Group 416-483-2358 |
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For more information about The Driven to Quit Challenge, please contact: Krista Murray Sr. Coordinator, Communications Canadian Cancer Society, Smokers' Helpline 905-387-4322 ext: 5617 [email protected] |
For more information about ArcelorMittal Dofasco, please contact: Marie Verdun Sr. Communication Specialist ArcelorMittal Dofasco 905-548-7200 ext: 2066 |
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