The American Cancer Society’s 37th-annual Great American Smokeout is on Thurs., Nov. 15. Smoking causes harm from the very first puff!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an estimated 45.8 million people (one in every five adults) in the United States smoke. That doesn’t include non-smokers who chew tobacco, cigar smokers or pipe smokers. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths. About 6 million deaths are related to smoking each year (1,200 people every day!) That doesn’t include the deaths due to second hand smoke.
More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before they are 18 years old. Daily more than 3,800 people under 18 years old smoke their first cigarette. Three out of four high school smokers continue to smoke well into adulthood.
Smoking causes cancer, heart and respiratory diseases. It harms nearly every organ of the body and affects the overall health of smokers. In fact, smoking kills more Americans than AIDS, car accidents, crime and drug abuse. More people die from lung cancer than breast, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer combined.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. On Nov. 16, from 8 to 8:15pm and again from 9 to 9:15 pm Eastern Standard Time, Niagara Falls will be illuminated in pure white light to raise awareness for Lung Cancer.
Make a plan to quit. Quitting isn’t easy, but it has immediate and long term benefits.
There are many resources to help you “Kick your Butts.” The American Cancer Society provides anti-smoking programs, resources and support. To learn more please call ACS at 1-800-227-2345.
Relay for Life is returning to Mission Viejo as we have every year since 1995. If you want to fight against cancer you can join Relay for Life/ Mission Viejo, go to mvrelay.org, volunteer, form a team or join a team.
Relay For Life/MV Planning Committee is on Thurs., Nov. 15 from 6:30 to 8 pm at Norman P. Murray, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. You are welcome to learn more about committee positions and help us set goals for 2013.
For more information, contact Amanda Bassett, Event Chair, 949/859-4348 ext. 5722 or Abassett@Cityofmissionviejo.org. We look forward to seeing you there.
