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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-12-02, Page 16Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - Page 15 Armstrong offers hope for smokers looking to quit .ward c.ecos signal -star staff Almost a half -million cigarettes and half a life later, Robert Arm- strong is 100 per cent smoke-free and is trying to help others achieve the same. "I'm not a non-smoker," he said. "I'm an ex-smoker." Armstrong is the driving force be- hind a new smoking cessation group, called Breathe Free. The group meets weekly at the Mackay Centre, and has ex-smokers (Armstrong included) offering help to smokers in any stage of the habit. "It isn't that hard to quit if you have the desire and people to help you out," he said. "Now that I know that it is a possibility, I want to offer help." Hailing from Kitchener -Waterloo, Armstrong said he was surprised when he came to Huron County because of the high percentage of smokers. "This is almost like the 70s," he said. "And I see a lot of young kids starting up again. It's really sad." One of the biggest problems with smoking, he said, is that people start in their teen years, when the full ex- tent of the choice to smoke is non - apparent. "If you start young, chances are by 18 you're seriously hooked;" he said. "Then you spend the next 30 years trying to quit." That was the case with Armstrong, who estimates he's smoked 402,450 cigarettes in his lifetime. "If I can smoke a half -million cigarettes and quit, you can quit," he said. "It's like a door - if you walk in and don't like what you see, turn around and walk back out." Getting people to realize that about smoking, though, is a difficult step. For many, it is a part of their daily routine, a part of their ritual and even a part of their life. Armstrong told the story of . one smoker in the group, who hasn't had a cigarette in more than seven weeks. He isn't smoking, but misses the habit. "He said it's like saying good- bye to a friend," he said. "That was the mindset for me too as well. But friends don't try to kill you" He said it's easy to pick on smok- ers, especially since they have a hard time defending their choice, how- ever, Armstrong said support, educa- tion and a low( at the big picture are far more effective tools than shun- ning. That's what I got after not -smok- ing, he said, while motioning to his top-of-the-line bicycle. Already this year, Armstrong has put on 11,300 kilometres on his bike, including a trip to Manitoulin, and he said the purchase was something he wouldn't have made as a smoker. "There is no sense putting an en- gine on this machine with a dirty air filter," he said. "At theage of 48, I bike about 10,000 kilometres a year." There are ups and downs when quitting smoking, and Armstrong can appreciate them all, having been down that road before. He said the group helps not only people trying to quit, but educates smokers on just how harmful the product is and provides avenues for cessation that could otherwise go unexplored. Armstrong has been working with the Huron County Health Unit in gathering materials for smokers. The array of materials span smokers in various stages of quitting, as well as those who don't want to quit at all. Learning about the habit is the first step to realizing how bad it is for you, he said. "I find nine of 10 smokers don't have a clue what it's doing to them," he said. "It's like alcoholics' denial - nobody wants to look at it because they would have a hard time justify- ing it." All he asks is that people come to the meetings with an open mind and just explore the possibility of quitting. For more information; call Armstrong at 5195-955-3033 or email robertlylearmstrong @ gmail. com. The group meets Thesday nights from 8-9 p.m. at the MacKay Centre at 10 Nelson Street. HIGH TENSILE STEEL DUMP BOXES • UGHT WEIGHT • BOXES INSTALLED OR LOOSE • DELIVERY AVAILABLE • CHASSIS ALTERATIONS BY OUR EXPERIENCED SHOP C O T T R/ L L 252 SARATOGA RD., KINCARDINE, ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT a 1 s-sss-aao$ www.cottrill.ca • TRUCK & TRAILER SERVICE & REPAIRS • HYDRAUUCS & CUSTOM HOSES • INSTALLATION OF PTO'S & PUMPS • HEAVY DUTY DIESEL EMISSIONS (MOBILE SERVICE) • AUTHORIZED INSTALLER FOR BEKA-MAX AUTOMATIC GREASING SYSTEMS Photo by Gerard Creces When Robert Armstrong quit smoking, he "cleaned the air fil- ter" on his bicycle, which he bought with the money saved. OIS ou Need! ..for a Successful Job Search ind a FREE One Day Workshop in... ✓ Resume Preparation ✓ Interview Techniques our local Centre For Employment and Learning. Goderich 519-524-2515 Clinton 519-482-1700 Searorth 519-527-0305 EMPLOYMENT ONTARIO Employment Ontario programs are funded ;n part by the Government o1 Canada. THE AMGH BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE AS COMMUNITY MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES ON THE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITEE AND THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE The Hospital has recently undertaken a review of Board Committees. It has been recommended the Quality Assurance and the Audit and Finance Committees have community member representation. The Governance Committee of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital invites written submissions from individuals interested in applying to be a conimunity member representative. Letters of application outlining qualifications and/or resume should be submitted on or before December 15 2009 to: Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Governance Committee c/o William R. Thibert, President/CEO 120 Napier Street Goderich, ON N7A 1W5 Fax: 519.524.5579 Email: amgh.administration©amgh.ca A copy of the Terms of Reference relating to these Board Committees can be obtained by contacting Stephanie Page 519.524.8689 ext. 5271; email stephanie.page@amgh.ca