Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Go dry for Macmillan
Macmillan is calling on people to sign up for its Go Sober for October fundraising drive by giving up alcohol for the month.
Participants are asked to stop drinking for the entire month.
The event raised £1.4 million in 2016, with many participants saying that ‘soberlising’ – socialising without alcohol – left them feeling motivated and encouraged.
The impact of an alcoholfree month, according to Macmillan, is more free time to spend with family and opportunities to develop stronger bonds with friends.
All money raised will go to Macmillan Cancer Support, to help the growing number of people living with cancer.
For more information, visit www.gosober.org.uk and follow the conversation on Twitter with #Gosober. Some 65% of smokers from Kent who attended drop-in clinics managed to quit smoking, according to a report.
University College, London, also found 58% of people in Medway were able to stop once they had contacted telephone support services.
Smokers across the area are being urged to join the ranks of ex-smokers by taking part in Stoptober – the month long campaign that starts on October 1.
Smoking rates across Kent and Medway have fallen by more than 5% since 2012.
In Kent just 15.2% of the adult population now smokes. In Medway the number is 19%.
Jason Mahoney, tobacco lead for Public Health England South East, said: “Stoptober is a perfect time for smokers to try and give up smoking – however many times they may have tried in the past.
“The annual campaign provides the perfect opportunity for family, friends and colleagues to work together towards quitting smoking for good.
“Now more than ever, there are a host of quit-smoking aids and free support services available.
“I would encourage anyone thinking of quitting to make a plan and take part in Stoptober.
“Evidence shows you are more likely to quit with support from a local stop-smoking service than if you try to go it alone.
“Quitting really is the best thing a smoker can do for their health, and by committing to