Kick it with Help campaign launched by Ronald Koeman, F2 Freestylers and Pfizer highlights the importance of expert help in quitting smoking…and achieving sporting success
Former Barcelona FC Player/assistant coach and Everton Manager Ronald Koeman today launches Pfizer’s Kick It with Help – a campaign that harnesses the widespread appeal of football to urge smokers to seek expert help when quitting smoking.
Working with Ronald Koeman and football trick experts the F2 Freestylers, Kick It with Help emphasises the parallels between football and quitting smoking – both which require motivation, and an expert coach and support team for the best chance of achieving success – to inspire smokers to seek help from a healthcare professional to quit. Kick It with Help launches with an online video [Watch below or click this link https://youtu.be/Q3y5rzgaFlE] which shows how the F2 Freestylers improve their free kicks with expert help and coaching from free-kick specialist Ronald Koeman.
“No one who has achieved success in the world of football has done so without the help of professionals along the way. Throughout my career as a player and a manager, I know the importance a good coach makes. I am dedicated to coaching my players to ensure they reach their goals and achieve success they deserve. This is also true for those trying to quit smoking and who are stuck in a cycle of quit attempts. By enlisting the help of your healthcare professional you can give yourself the best chance of quitting smoking.” Everton Manager, Ronald Koeman.
“Quitting smoking is one of the best things any smoker can do to look after their health. We know that motivated quitters have the best chance of stopping when they have help from a healthcare professional, yet too many struggle alone and fall into a cycle of quitting and relapsing,” said Mr. Paul Reid, Managing Director, Pfizer Healthcare Ireland. “Kick It with Help has an important message that assistance is available for people who want to quit, and I hope it inspires many smokers to seek support from their healthcare professional to quit.”
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Smoking remains a major public health challenge, causing almost 6 million deaths worldwide each year, and Europe has the highest prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults (28%) versus other World Health Organization (WHO) regions[i],[ii]Smokers are up to four times more likely to quit with support from a healthcare professional than with willpower alone.[iii]
Around 70% of smokers say they want to stop smoking, but most believe they are unable to. However, around half of all smokers eventually manage to give up.4 For those smokers who are stuck in a cycle of quitting and relapsing, a different approach with the support of a healthcare professional could help to achieve success. Pfizer’s Kick It with Help campaign aims to highlight this important message by showing in parallel how the F2 Freestylers achieve their goal after enrolling the help of free kick specialist Ronald Koeman.
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. In Ireland, it is estimated that 5,200 people die annually from smoking related diseases.5 Irish death rates from smoking related diseases remain 9% higher than the European average. 5 Smoking causes half of all long-term smokers to die prematurely from smoking-related diseases and is a major cause of morbidity, with smokers on average losing at least 10 quality years of life.6
Kick It with Help was developed by Pfizer who are committed to supporting motivated smokers to achieve the best chance of quitting smoking – with healthcare professional support and guidance.
Pfizer’s Quit with Help website [ www.quitwithhelp.ie ] provides support for motivated quitters beyond the clinic. Quit with Help provides help, information, suggestions, ideas and motivations to support a quit journey. Quit with Help also includes a function to locate a local stop smoking service for the best chance to quit smoking with help.
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References:
[i] World Health Organization. Tobacco: Data and Statistics. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/tobacco/data-and-statistics. (Last accessed November 2016)
[ii] World Health Organization. Tabacco Media Fact Sheet. June 2016 Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs339/en/. (Last accessed November2016)
[iii] West R. Stop Smoking Services: increased chances of quitting. NCSCT Briefing 8. London. 2012. National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training
- HSE Quit Smoking. Available at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/Q/Quitting-smoking/ (Last accessed November2016)
- Smoking in Ireland 2014: Synopsis of Key Patterns. HSE National Tobacco Control Office. February 2015. ISBN: 978-1-898098-64-5
- Tobacco Free Ireland. Dept. of Health. October 2013.