Jennifer scoops top prize forquitting habit of a lifetime
The 35-year-old administration assistant at Tallaght Hospital was yesterday named the overall winner of the eighth annual Nicorette Quit Awards in recognition of her achievement.
A delighted Jennifer, who wins a holiday for two to Florida as her prize, had calculated she smoked over 280,000 cigarettes since she began at the age of 12, often smoking up to 60 a day at weekends.
However, Jennifer's prime motivation for quitting tobacco came from increasing bad health rather than impending legislation.
"After several episodes of respiratory problems, including 10 chest infections in the year before I quit, I decided I'd enough," she said.
Jennifer had tried twice before in recent years to quit but had only lasted a little over three weeks on both occasions. "Cigarettes were taking over my life. If I left work with 16 in a pack, I had to make sure I got to the shops to stock up for the following day."
Now almost one year without smoking, having used a combination of Nicorette patches and inhaler, Jennifer realises that the temptation to have a cigarette remains.
"I know I still have to watch myself that I don't go back smoking and I suppose the ban will help," she said.
As for advice to those wanting to quit smoking, Jennifer said: "You really have to want to give it up yourself. Nobody else will ever convince you to do it."
Although she and her youngest sister, Emma, are the only non-smokers in her large family, Jennifer said her success had already persuaded her mother, Bernie and another sister, Nicola to try to quit.
Other finalists were Mary Despard, Stamullen, Co Meath; Noel Keohan, Waterford; Grainne Reid, Convoy, Co Donegal and Nollaig Tubbert, Tallaght, Co Dublin.
The prizes were presented by comedian and actor Deirdre O'Kane, who is also a former smoker, at a ceremony in Dublin.
"I gave up smoking about three years ago after developing asthma. I noticed that it was affecting my breathing and giving me chest infections," Ms O'Kane said.
"I was only ever a social smoker but I could smoke up to 40 cigarettes a night as I'd always treat myself after I came off stage. Now I have a drink instead," she laughed.
Paul O'Brien, Nicorette marketing manager, said the awards were held in recognition of the achievement of all the finalists in showing great inspiration to give up smoking.
"Everyone is a winner. Although it is easy and trite to say that, it is still true," said Mr O'Brien. He pointed out that the five finalists had collectively consumed 1.4 million cigarettes during a combined total of 150 years of smoking.
