Kicking the habit - Kettering Town Football Club supports Smokefree UnitedKettering Town Football Club is backing Smokefree United, a national campaign to help people in Northamptonshire give smoking the red card.
Smokefree United is a virtual club set up by the Department of Health to help footy fans kick the habit with support from their local football teams and NHS Stop Smoking Services.
Local lads Glenn Starks and Ashley Lawman signed up to Smokefree United and found themselves on the famous turf at Rockingham Road to begin the coaching they needed to stop smoking alongside several of the first team stars.
Glenn Starks, 34, a company director from Kettering, has been a Poppies fan all his life - and a smoker for almost twenty years - said: “I play occasional five-a-side football and would love to play more often, but I’ve noticed I do tend to get out of breath quite easily. It will be interesting to see how stopping smoking helps my stamina getting round the pitch.”
The fans took part in a fitness exam, and had the level of carbon monoxide in their lungs measured – tests which will be repeated after four weeks to demonstrate the improvement in their physical condition after just one month smokefree.
They are also receiving help and support from the Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service who are working with the lads to develop winning plans that fit different lifestyles.
John Dempster, said: “We are really pleased to be supporting Smokefree United and all of our fans who are trying to quit.
“Everyone can benefit from quitting smoking and we want our fans to feel the improvements in their day to day lives, whether running for a bus, keeping up with the kids, or cheering the on the Poppies, we want our fans to feel good from stopping smoking.”
For further information and to sign up to Smokefree United visit: www.smokefree.nhs.uk/united or call Northamptonshire NHS Stop Smoking Services on 0845 601 3116.