“Stopping smoking changes everything”: Ex-smokers urge others to quit

Smokers in Hackney are being urged by former addicts to take the first step in giving up cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day.

While studies show that two-thirds of smokers want to quit, more than 20 per cent of adults continue to smoke in Hackney.

The theme of this year’s No Smoking Day on Wednesday March 11 is “Proud to be a Quitter”, and Hackney Council has put together a series of inspirational stories from ex-smokers’ to highlight the life-changing benefits of quitting, and to give current smokers the belief that they too can stop.

Hackney resident Ermira Alishani stopped smoking eight weeks ago, and now says she is proud to have quit because “stopping smoking changes everything”.

“I believe you have to care for yourself before you can really care for others,” she said.

“Now that I am caring for myself by stopping smoking, I have much more energy and time for my family.”

Specialist stop smoking advisers from Hackney’s Stop Smoking Service will be in Ridley Road market next Wednesday from 10am to 4pm, and the Redmond Community Centre, Heron GP Practice and Cedar GP Practice from 11.30am to 4.30pm.

The annual campaign is run by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and encourages hundreds of thousands of smokers to make a quit attempt on No Smoking Day.