A new film starring Hull residents premiered in the city on Friday. Quitters is a powerful 30-minute documentary about people who changed their lives by deciding to quit smoking. Screened at Hull Truck Theatre and followed by a Q&A session, Quitters is intended to inspire other smokers to follow in the footsteps of its stars.
The film can be viewed online here and a series of short snippets can be seen across the Hull City Council social media channels. Every person in the film gave up smoking with the support of SmokeFree Hull – the city’s stop smoking service. They include Rosemary, who reflects candidly on what motivated her to quit after 50 years, and Andy, who smoked for 49 years but stopped when it began affecting his day-to-day life.
Cllr Linda Chambers, Portfolio Holder for Public Health at Hull City Council, said: “Quitters is a fantastic short film, which shows the impact stopping smoking can have. The local people featured were so generous with their time and their stories, and the result is something really powerful.
“It’s a very honest look at the process of stopping smoking and doesn’t shy away from how difficult it can be. However, we also hear in people’s own words about the ways it’s changed their lives for the better.
“I would urge everyone to watch it, but particularly anyone who smokes, or has a loved one who does. The other key message is that anyone who wants to quit is not alone. We have a wonderful support service in SmokeFree Hull, who have helped every person in Quitters on their journey. Watch it, share it, see if it inspires you to stop too”.
SmokeFree Hull Service Manager, Tracy Mikkelsen Edwards said: “This series shines a powerful light on the support available from our passionate and dedicated stop smoking team, demonstrating that no one has to face quitting alone. We provide free advice and stop smoking products to help our clients quit, tailoring our support to suit them. We’re proud to share these stories and inspire others to take that first step toward a healthier future by stopping smoking.”
Speaking in the film, participant Rosemary speaks about how she feels having quit smoking for good: “The physical differences are amazing. Being able to get up without coughing, being able to walk and talk at the same time, even being able to run around.”
“I just wanted to prove to myself that I can do it. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
Watch Quitters here, and catch short snippets on Hull City Council’s and SmokeFree Hull’s social media accounts. For free support to stop smoking, contact SmokeFree Hull on 01482 977617 or visit www.changegrowlive.org/smoke-free-hull/home. You can also try the free app here, or search ‘smokefree’ in your app provider for daily support, stats and updates throughout your quit journey.