CAMPAIGN FOR THE QUIT QUARTER

During National No-Smoking Week (15 - 21st January 2012) Dr. John Oyston, founder of the www.StopSmokingForSaferSurgery.ca web site is launching "The Campaign for the Quit Quarter".

The aim of the campaign is to promote smoking cessation by minting a special quarter with a coloured image of a broken cigarette in the centre.

Canada was the first country to release coloured coins into general circulation. Quarters decorated with red poppies were released to mark Remembrance Day in 2004, 2008 and 2010. On average, 11,000 Canadians died in each year of the two world wars. In 2006 a quarter with a pink ribbon was issued to promote breast cancer awareness. This disease kills 5,400 Canadians per year.

Smoking kills 47,000 Canadians each year. This is more than car accidents, murder, suicide, AIDS, alcohol and all other drugs combined.

19% of Canadians still smoke, and the number of smokers is actually increasing each year.

Clearly we need a new method of making people aware of the risks of smoking. A "quit Quarter" would put the message in every Canadian's pocket. If, when smokers paid for their cigarettes, they were confronted by the "Quit Quarter" it would give them a reminder that they should quit.

Supporters of the campaign are asked to "Like" the Campaign for the Quit Quarter at: http://www.facebook.com/QuitQuarter, follow it on Twitter as @QuitQuarter, on Tumblr (quitquarter.tumblr.com) and write to: The Royal Canadian Mint at 320 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C7 (Email: reeves@mint.ca) The Prime Minister at The Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 (Email: pm@pm.gc.ca) and the Federal Health Minister, The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, at Health Canada, Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 (Email: Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca).

CONTACT INFORMATION: Web site: http://www.QuitQuarter.ca Dr. John Oyston Email QuitQuarter@gmail.com Availability: Thur 12th after 11 a.m., Fri 13th, Sat 14th, Sun 15th all day, Thur 19th 7 am - 3 pm