Good Health and $5000 Prize Money Quit Now Contest

Quit Smoking Enjoy Better Health

Win $5,000

British Columbia smokers who want to quit can register today for the third annual QuitNow & WIN provincial contest. Everyone who participates is eligible for a much healthier life, but only the grand prize winner takes home $5,000 cash.

Supported by grant funding from the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport and organized by the BC Lung Association, the contest requires smokers to engage a buddy for daily support. 

            Last year’s Interior Region winner, Diane Leroux of Armstrong said, “Having my daughter as my ‘quit buddy’ made quitting even better.  She kept me positive and still supports me when I need it.”

In addition to participating in the contest, smokers are encouraged to make use of QuitNow supports including, a confidential helpline (1 877 455-2233) with information available in 130 languages and an online quit community where professional and peer support is available 24/7. Quitters can also sign up for email quit tips and texts, join QuitNow’s Twitter and Facebook pages and explore interactive quit tools and resources at: Quit Now.

            “Half of smokers die from their addiction, and second-hand smoke harms many other people. The average loss of life for smokers is about 16 years,” said Dr Peter Barss, medical officer of health, Interior Health. “This contest provides smokers with an engaging way to have a healthier life by making the commitment to quit smoking which makes everyone a winner. Also, the money saved on the purchase of cigarettes will stay in your pocket - the lucky winner, a healthy non-smoker.”

According to the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey in 2009, 14.9 per cent or approximately 550,000 British Columbians continue to smoke. Over 106, 000 live in the Interior Health Region. The BC Stats Tobacco Attitudes and Behaviours Survey Report 2008, shows that at any given time about 70 per cent of all smokers wish to quit.

“The QuitNow & WIN contest provides British Columbian smokers with an engaging way to have a healthier life by making the commitment to quit smoking,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport. “Along with the cash prizes that many participants can win by entering the contest, the grand prize for all quitters is a healthier, smoke-free lifestyle.”

In total, the QuitNow & WIN contest offers $20,000 in cash prizes, thanks to prize sponsor McNeil Consumer Healthcare. These include a $5,000 grand prize, five $1,000 regional prizes, and 14 weekly draw prizes ranging from $500 to $1,000. For contest details, visit:Quit Now.