Wellard and Secret Harbour women star in new quit smoking campaign

A NEW WA quit smoking ad features two women, from Wellard and Secret Harbour, who have recently quit smoking or are attempting to quit.

The campaign called From Every Quitter shows its stars deliver a heartfelt plea to camera, telling smokers “if you can’t quit with me, don’t smoke around me”.

Wellard woman Levi Montgomery stopped smoking a few weeks ago after smoking for 15 years on and off.

She decided to quit for improved health.

Ms Montgomery asked others to show support for people trying to quit.

Cancer Council WA Make Smoking History manager Libby Jardine said the campaign aimed to help people on their quit journey by rallying the support of their loved ones, especially those who continue to smoke.

The campaign is based on 2015 research conducted by the Cancer Prevention Research Unit at Curtin University that found seeing other people smoke was a key trigger to smoke and one of the top barriers to quitting was knowing loved ones smoke.

Ms Jardine said the individuals in the campaign were recruited from a group of 70 who responded to a call out on Facebook last year.

The campaign will run on TV, radio, including Indigenous channels, at outdoor locations such as petrol stations and online.

Smokers will be encouraged to create and share their own #PleaseHelpMeQuit posts throughout the campaign.

More than two of three long-term smokers will die from their addiction, around 1600 people a day.

Call the Quit line on 13 78 48 to talk to someone about quitting.