We Can Quit

A group of Rialto women are in a celebratory mood after completing the ‘We Can Quit’ campaign.

The free programme aims to help women give up smoking altogether – and is proving to be very successful.

Nine women from the Dublin 8 area completed the course and seven women have quit smoking altogether.

Theresa McCarthy (facilitator), Ann Marie Leahy, Lisa Buckley (facilitator), Collette Wylie, Sandra Lee, Veronica Lally, Marie O’Neill and Martina Whelan are pictured above at the graduation ceremony with a quilt handmade by the women.

The women started the 12-week programme in January, and from there attended weekly group sessions along with one-to-one support meetings.

They also received two weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to the value of €450, free of charge.

The programme was open to female smokers over the age of 18 years and living in the Dublin 8 and 12 areas.

Rachel Burke, the community cancer prevention officer at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “We would like to congratulate all of the local women who have completed We Can Quit – it is a fantastic achievement which will have a positive impact on their lives, and those of their families.

“We Can Quit offers women support to take on and succeed on their quitting journey. Through the programme, women can access a friendly and supportive network of like-minded women who really understand what they are going through.

“Together, the women in We Can Quit help each other to quit smoking for good.”

We Can Quit is an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society, in partnership with the HSE, F2 Centre and Enterprise Management Board, Fatima Groups United, Dublin South City Partnership, Dolphin CDA, Canal Communities Regional Addiction Service, Bluebell Pharmacy and Haven Pharmacy.

The next We Can Quit course in the area began on April 25th in the St Agnes Parish Centre, St Agnes Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12.

To find out more about We Can Quit, or to register your interest for the next course, see the Irish Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.ie/we-can-quit.