Band supports PHA stop smoking message at surprise gig
Welsh 'Indie Folksters' Paper Aeroplanes, who are currently touring the UK, stopped off in Lisburn today for a surprise gig at a school, which they also used to promote the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) stop smoking campaign.
The duet, whose track ‘Same Mistakes’ features in the PHA’s recent stop smoking TV ads, played a gig at Fort Hill College in Lisburn and used the opportunity to warn young people of the dangers of smoking. They also encouraged those who already smoke to seek help and quit.
Gerry Bleakney, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said:
“More than four out of every five adult smokers began smoking in their teens or younger so it is extremely important to discourage young people from starting to smoke in the first place.
“Young people who experiment with cigarettes do not believe they will become addicted; they think it will be easy to stop smoking and do not worry about the impact on their health in later life. Nicotine addiction is powerful, similar to that of heroin, and it is for this reason that there is a wide range of specialist stop smoking services in community pharmacies, GP surgeries, and hospital and community clinics to help and support people to stop smoking.
“‘The impact of parents’ smoking on the emotional wellbeing of children is central to the PHA’s ‘Make them Proud’ campaign. Paper Aeroplanes’ song ‘Same Mistakes’ really brought our emotional ads to life, so it is fantastic that they have taken a break from their busy schedule to join us in Northern Ireland to support our stop smoking message.”
Paper Aeroplanes said: ''It’s been lovely to combine our music with such an important message and take it out to kids in Northern Ireland. If I was a regular smoker I'd never be able to do my job properly as a singer and having seen so many people's health deteriorate due to smoking we're proud to back any campaign that encourages quitting'.”
The PHA’s TV ad featuring ‘Same Mistakes’ can be seen at www.bit.ly/phaproud
For more information and useful tips to stop smoking, visit the PHA’s ‘Want 2 Stop’ website at www.want2stop.info and use the online chat service or order a ‘Quit Kit’ free of charge. Alternatively, you can contact the Smokers’ Helpline on 0808 812 8008 provided by Cancer Focus NI, text the word ‘Quit’ to 70004, or check out the Want 2 Stop Facebook page.