Tuesday May 22, 7:00 am Eastern Time
Press ReleaseSOURCE: Coalition for World No Tobacco DaySports Stars Team Up to Defeat Tobacco Use and Secondhand SmokeThird-Annual World No Tobacco Day Public Service Announcement Campaign Features Diverse Roster of Professional AthletesNEW YORK, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), observed annually on May 31 worldwide, five celebrity athletes are speaking out against tobacco use by participating in a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign sponsored by The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day. In addition to emphasizing the dangers of tobacco use, the PSA also highlights the harmful impact of secondhand smoke, which serves as the theme for this year's WNTD. The PSA unites athletes who, while representing a variety of sports, share a common goal of motivating the public to be tobacco-free. Among the stars lending their support are Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees, Elton Brand of the Chicago Bulls, Jason Sehorn of the New York Giants, Jeff Kent of the San Francisco Giants and reigning Olympic Gold Medalist, Figure Skater Tara Lipinski. The PSA will air on television stations and in sporting venues nationwide throughout the year. ``I've seen the negative effects of tobacco use first-hand, and I know how devastating they can be,'' said Tara Lipinski, who recently lost her grandfather to emphysema. ``That's why it's so important to me to let people know that it's never too late to quit, especially when you run the risk of exposing those around you to secondhand smoke.'' Created by the World Health Organization in 1988, World No Tobacco Day is the first and only global event established to raise awareness about the international impact of tobacco use and promote a tobacco-free environment. Now in its third year of existence in the U.S., The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day consists of non-profit organizations, corporate sponsors and esteemed thoughtleaders who recognized the enormous losses suffered as a result of tobacco-related death and disease. ``This year's PSA campaign represents something truly unique and special, as do the athletes who participated in it,'' said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a founding organization of The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day. For the past two years, The Coalition has produced award-winning PSAs featuring Major League Baseball players such as Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox and Omar Vizquel of the Cleveland Indians. ``We hope that the broad appeal of these athletes, who represent the best of each of their sports, will deliver this important message about being tobacco-free to an even wider range of audiences.'' In this year's PSA, entitled, ``Keep Trying,'' the athletes explain that no matter how many times they fell short of a goal -- such as missing a tackle or landing a triple jump -- they kept trying until they succeeded. They encourage tobacco users who haven't been able to quit in the past to do the same, while asking those who are tobacco-free to stay that way and help those close to them to quit. ``Research tells us that the average smoker tries to quit seven times before quitting for good,'' Myers explained. ``Any attempt to give up tobacco is a positive step towards becoming tobacco-free.'' The athletes reinforce this call-to-action by emphasizing that tobacco users who quit not only reduce their risk of tobacco-related disease, but they also stop exposing loved ones to secondhand smoke. In support of this theme, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging everyone to protect children from secondhand smoke, especially in the home. Families can call the toll-free Smoke-Free Home Hotline, 1-800-513-1157, to pledge to keep their home smoke-free. Those that call will receive a Smoke-Free Home Kit, which includes a certificate, magnet and more information about how to create a smoke-free home. ``Secondhand smoke can cause serious health effects in children, including bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, worsened asthma and even sudden infant death syndrome,'' said EPA Administrator Governor Christine Todd Whitman. ``Until you can quit, protect your children by making your home smoke-free.'' In addition to this year's national PSA campaign, the Coalition has sought to galvanize the public at a grassroots level by initiating a seed grant program designed to fund local organizations conducting WNTD initiatives. The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about WNTD in the United States. Founding members include the Pan American Health Organization, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Cancer Society, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the National Association of African Americans for Positive Imagery, among others. The mission of The Coalition for World No Tobacco Day is to raise
awareness of World No Tobacco Day by calling attention to the human and
economic tolls of the global tobacco epidemic and improve public health by
encouraging people not to use tobacco and motivating users to quit. Consumers
and organizations seeking more information about The Coalition and World No
Tobacco Day can log on to The Coalition Web site. SOURCE: Coalition for World No Tobacco Day |