Want to quit smoking? The Great American Cancer Society can help!

The American Cancer Society (ACS) will be sponsoring their Great American Smokeout event on Thursday.

The Great American Smokeout coincides with Northeast Iowa Tobacco Awareness Week. The Board of Supervisors from Allamakee, Delaware, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties have proclaimed this Tobacco Awareness Week throughout their counties.

The annual event encourages people to stop using tobacco for the day and to make plans to quit.  ACS says, "By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risks."

Quitting has benefits, no matter how long you have used tobacco. Quit tobacco use with coaching services 24 hours a day from Quitline over the phone -- 1.800.QUIT NOW -- or visit www.quitlineiowa.org. Use this resource, and increase your chances to quit successfully. Research shows phone coaching is twice as effective as smokers trying to quit on their own.

Get a free Quit Kit for yourself or to share with someone you know. Inside the kit you will find tobacco facts, a guide to quitting, and information on Quitline Iowa services. Quit Kits are available at your local pharmacy.

Learn how to get involved and support tobacco prevention efforts in your community, by contacting Tessa at Helping Services -- 563-387-1720.