The contest encourages smokers to turn to a buddy for encouragement, register online forsupport, and have the chance to win prizes totalling more than $20,000, provided by corporate sponsor McNeil Consumer Healthcare Canada.

“The contest inspired me,” said Pamela Wray of Fort St. John, last year’s winner in the Northern Health Authority. “It motivated me to really quit and maybe win, which I did. Sincequitting smoking, I have more energy, higher self-esteem and, as a bonus, more money.”

“In the Northern region, more than 57,000 people smoke; basically 22 per cent of our population,” said Dr. David Bowering, Chief Medical Officer of Northern Health. “The North has the highest smoking rate in the province, which means we need to make improvements. Smokers are at risk for many diseases, including lung cancer, emphysema, and coronary heart disease.”

QuitNow & WIN is an online contest that uses a combination of traditional and social media supports to help people quit smoking. Participants sign up with a ‘buddy’ who provides friendly encouragement and they can use QuitNow by Phone (1-877-455-2233), a free telephone-based counselling program available 24/7 in over 130 languages. Participants can sign up for supportive emails, text messages, Twitter “tweets” and Facebook updates.

“Based on last year’s success, at least 3,000 contestants quit for a minimum of three months and we expect even great numbers this year,” said Scott McDonald, Executive Director for the