| Exiles help beef up No Smoking Day
campaign  By
Niamh Hennessy
WHEN three dashing rugby players approach you in the street and tell you
to quit smoking chances are you’re going to stop and listen.
This was the scene in Kilburn last week when members of the London Irish
rugby team joined NHS staff to promote No Smoking Day.
Over one in three Irish men and women smoke compared to just 27 per cent
of the general population.
The No Smoking team decided to target Kilburn in their campaign as over
2,000 Irish people live in the Kilburn, West Hampstead and Fortune Green
areas of North-West London which in turn means very high numbers of smokers.
In response to these statistics Camden Primary Care Trust and Brent Primary
Care Trust joined with the London Irish Rugby Club, Kilburn Town Centre
Management and the Third Age Project to hold the information event on Kilburn
High Road.
They provided information on how to get support to give up smoking, the
dangers of buying illegal cigarettes on the street and the health benefits
of quitting. Smokers were also able to have their carbon monoxide levels
checked.
Community development manager at London Irish Philippos Kyriacou said: “We
feel it is vital to support events that are driving home important health
messages and are delighted to be included.
“With our Irish heritage and players as positive male role models
we have a responsibility to help promote their healthy lifestyles and raise
awareness about the dangers of smoking and the negative effects to the health
of the Irish population in Kilburn.”
Becky Hirst, Community Stop Smoking Advisor in the smokefree team at
Camden Primary Care Trust, said: “I hope the event will raise awareness
amongst the local Irish population about local help available to stop
smoking.
“It is brilliant to have the support of London Irish to help promote
this important message.”
n For free advice and support to stop smoking call 0800 10 70 401 (Camden)
or 020 8965 224 (Brent).
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