Great American Smokeout
If you think this holiday is about barbeque, then you’d be mistaken. While it sounds like a great barbeque competition, it’s about a challenge for people all over the United States to quit smoking. As 40 million adults still smoke yearly, this is a day to either start the first day of smoking or gives them an opportunity towards making a plan to quit smoking for good. If you want to know how to take part in this holiday, the read more to learn about its history and how you can begin the end of smoking.
History of Great American Smokeout
The first Great American Smokeout started back in 1970, where it began as a series of smaller initiatives. In Randolph, Massachusetts, Arthur P. Mullaney, a guidance counselor for the Randolph High School, suggested a day where people stop smoking and organized an event where people instead of spending their money on cigarettes would donate their money so they can form college scholarships. Using the tagline ‘Light up a Student’s Future, Not a Cigarette’, the first held event happened in 1972 and brought in $4,500 dollars in donations. Each year the donations increased and the holiday spread. The next state to take on the holiday was Minnesota, when Lynn R. Smith, an editor of the Monticello Times, launched an initiative called D-Day, which stood for Don’t Smoke Day.
From there, the California Division of the American Cancer Society adopted this holiday in 1976 and has since been successfully helping over one million smokers quit for the day. Since then, the American Cancer Society annually holds fundraising events, taking in donations, and helping smokers all over the country get the resources they need to quit smoking. The American Cancer Society provides factual information for smokers, such as the possible future health problems that could exist and the stories of smokers who have quitted and plan to quit so a community could form and people’s lives can be saved.
How to celebrate Great American Smokeout
If you’re thinking about quitting, why not team up with the thousands of other smokers who are planning to use the Great American Smokeout. Volunteer for a fundraising event. Donate money to the cause. You can also use the American Cancer Society’s resources to quit smoking for good and install a yearly plan to keep you away from tobacco products. Also, if you love this holiday, share the news of it on your favorite social media websites by using the hashtag #greatamericansmokeout.
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