Real life quitters
The real life quitters below tell their true stories about how they successfully stopped smoking and how they used the free NHS support. Watch the videos and read about their real-life experiences.
If you have quit smoking and would like to tell your story please drop us a line.
Mario Errigo, Winchester
51-year-old chef Mario went Smokefree along with his colleagues, after his local NHS service agreed to run a group in his workplace.
Giving up as a group
Mario had a 30-year habit when he stopped smoking three years ago, encouraged to go smokefree by the birth of his son.
Partners and staff at Mario's catering business were keen to join him and stop smoking together, so Mario's local NHS service ran a group in his workplace that went on to have a 100% success rate.
Support from his colleagues and local NHS advisers was invaluable to Mario and he's noticed a wide range of changes since giving up for good: "I'm able to taste, smell - all my senses seem heightened. I can also exercise much longer at the gym now. Although social gatherings were initially the hardest time to resist the urge to reach for a cigarette, now I feel a real sense of freedom."
More stories
Met with their local NHS Stop Smoking adviser for free access to tools and information
Joined the Smokefree Together programme and used free leaflets, texts and emails to quit from home
Mario and his colleagues supported each other in a local NHS Stop Smoking Service group.
When Jo's son told her how worried he was about her health, she quit with the help of her local NHS Stop Smoking Service.
Brendan quit smoking with the help of a football team run by his local NHS Stop Smoking Service advisor.
