Refer from: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/health/other/2008/04/13/151661/Quit%2Dsmoking.htm TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A contest aimed at encouraging smokers to quit was officially launched Saturday, with organizers announcing that the contestants who succeed in kicking the habit within the specified time will qualify to draw for a top prize of NT$600,000 (US$19,672). The "Quit and Win" campaign was organized jointly by the John Tung Foundation (JTF) and the Bureau of Health Promotion under the ministerial-level Department of Health, as part of its effort to promote public health. Chen Ying-chun, JTF's vice director of the Tobacco Control Division, said "many smokers are actually willing to quit this bad habit, " and that "some 20,000 smokers are expected to enroll in the contest." Noting that there are an estimated of 4.5 million smokers in Taiwan, which represents one fifth of the nation's population, Hsueh Kuang-chieh, Head of Tobacco Cessation Clinic, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, said he hoped "the campaign would help them to stop smoking completely." Hsueh said that smoking related problems cost the government some NT$30 billion each year to provide treatment, and suggested that deep breathing, drinking cold water and doing body stretches will help to reduce the desire to smoke." "I am eager to quit smoking in order to fulfill the promise I made to myself and my family," said Liu Chou-hong, one of the contestants who has been smoking for 28 years. Lu, who recalled that he lit his first cigarette at the age of 15, said "quitting smoking would not only make me healthier, but would help me to set a good example for my 18-year-old son who is also a smoker." Andy Chu, a taxi driver who had been a smoker for 30 years before he quit in 2007, told the participants in the campaign that "a strong will and self-discipline are both crucial." "Since I quit smoking, neither my clients nor family members, and my daughter in particular, have complained about the bad smell," Chu said happily. "I also feel much healthier than before." According to the rules of the contest, competitors must stop smoking for the period May 2 to May 29. After a medical evaluation and an assessment by the person supervising the contestants, the successful ones will qualify for a lucky draw to win top prize of NT$600,000. "Come and join us and help to create a better and healthier life," said Chen Ying-chun, adding that the closing date for entries is May 1. http://www.quitandwin.org.tw/qw_ActMethod.aspx --

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