Why it matters: Smoking costs Suffolk an estimated £703m each year in health and social care costs, lost productivity and smoking-related fires, making it the single greatest risk for early deaths in the county.
The big picture: The "Never Stop Trying" campaign aims to help create a smoke-free generation by:
Sharing real-life success stories from Suffolk residents
Drawing parallels with Ipswich Town's 22-year journey back to the Premier League
Offering enhanced support through Feel Good Suffolk, the county's stop-smoking service
What they're saying: "I am proud to support this campaign, which is not just about quitting smoking, but about changing lives. This campaign is all about supporting people in their quitting journey and showing them that they can succeed in the end with the right support," says Cllr Steve Wiles, Cabinet Member for Public Health.
"We are proud to be part of this important campaign and to support our local community in making healthier choices," says Dan Palfrey, Director of Foundation at Ipswich Town.
By the numbers:
Nearly 1,000 deaths per year in Suffolk are linked to smoking
Smokers are three times more likely to quit with support from their local service
The national target aims to reduce smoking rates to below 5% by 2030
How to get help: Residents can access support through Feel Good Suffolk's stop smoking service, which offers one-to-one coaching, phone support and digital tools.
The bottom line: With smoking causing nearly 1,000 deaths each year in Suffolk, this campaign brings together local government, sport, and healthcare to tackle what remains the county's biggest preventable killer.
