How old were you when you started smoking?
I was 9 years old!
How many years did you smoke?
I've smoked for 52 years, smoking on average of 15 cigarettes a day.
Do you remember why you started smoking?
I was the youngest of five lads, they all smoked. It looked good and it was the 'in' thing, so I decided to start.
What were your reasons for quitting?
I had two strokes and a heart attack.
How did you access stop smoking support?
I visited Yorkshire Smokefree for one-to-one support and received excellent support.
Did you use stop smoking products to help you quit?
Yes, I started out with an inhalator but I was struggling to get on with it so I replaced it with an e-cigarette.
How helpful did you find them?
I found my e-cigarette very useful and it's helped me stop smoking.
Has your health improved since quitting?
Yes! I can breathe a lot easier and I can walk a lot further without getting breathless.
What do you like about not smoking?
I'm feeling much healthier and quitting has kept me alive!
Do you have any plans to treat yourself with the money saved?
Yes, I'm going to have a month in Newquay as soon as I have my bypass operation.
What would you say to anyone who has recently started smoking?
DON'T - simple as that.
The amount of money I've spent over the years, I could have bought several houses. My health would be better. Don't ever start smoking. I would honestly say looking back it was the worst thing I ever did.
