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Mum from Blackburn launches stop smoking campaign

7:00pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Jessica Cree , Education reporter

Sam Madden and Bobby-Jo Martin Sam Madden and Bobby-Jo Martin

A MOTHER-OF-TWO is helping to launch a new campaign to encourage people to stop smoking.

Bobby-Jo Martin, 22, said she was inspired to kick the habit after falling pregnant with her third child and now wants to help people achieve what she has.

She and her 24-year-old partner Sam Madden are now part of a new campaign which is set to launch across Lancashire today showcasing successful quitters and their personal stories.

Bobby-Jo, from the Bank Top area of Blackburn, said: “I really didn’t want to keep smoking during my pregnancy or cause any harm to my unborn child or to my other two young children.

“I have tried to quit before and this time Sam and I quit together.

“If we can do it, so can you.”

There are more than 28,000 smokers in Blackburn with Darwen alone with an estimated cost to society of over £46million per year.

In 2009, there were 256 smoking related deaths in Blackburn with Darwen.

The aim of the new quit campaign is to inspire smokers to give up for good by telling real-life stories of people who have managed to stop.

Research shows that smokers who try to quit with the help of an NHS Stop Smoking Service are four times more likely to succeed than those who try to quit on their own.

A 20-a-day smoker will also save £1,500 if she quits throughout pregnancy.

Andrea Crossfield, director of Tobacco Free Futures said: “We have high hopes for the new local campaign to help even more people to quit this year.

“Local NHS Stop Smoking Services can really make all the difference for a smoker quitting for good.

“Many people want to quit but are put off for various reasons such as lack of support, failing to quit in the past, or just because they feel too stressed to try and quit.

“The local NHS Stop Smoking Services in Lancashire offer a brilliant support network making it more likely you’ll quit for good this time.”

To find out more about services available, visit letsquitlancashire.co.uk or text ‘Quit’ to 600 70.

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