Quit to Win! Challenge

A winning approach for people who want to quit smoking

The Quit to Win! Challenge is a positive motivational campaign that encourages smokers to take the plunge and butt out! No matter how many times someone has tried to quit in the past or how long they’ve been smoking, the Challenge can make it happen!

The Challenge encourages everyone to quit on their own terms so that they have a better chance of not smoking for the six weeks of the Challenge (March 1 to April 11). Participants can register on their own, with a non-smoking sponsor, or with a fellow smoker who also wants to quit. Free support is available in a variety of forms before, during, and after the Challenge.

Participants have exclusive access to an online personal file, a series of motivational emails (“I’m Butting Out!”), and the new and improved Quit Kit, available while quantities last at PJC Jean Coutu drugstores. Other resources include the website, QuitChallenge.ca; the Facebook page. the TELUS Health Solutions smartphone app; the iQuitnow helpline (1 866 527-7383); and countless Quit Smoking Centres.

Register online at QuitChallenge.ca by March 1. All registered participants are entered to win a number of prizes totalling more than $10,000, including a trip to a sun destination!

Since 2000, close to 340,000 people have participated in the Challenge. Of that number, according to various surveys carried out,* on average 2 participants out of 3 successfully met the challenge of not smoking for 6 weeks. This is an excellent success rate for this type of campaign.

The Quit to Win! Challenge is an ACTI-MENU initiative produced in partnership with several public and private organizations, notably Quebec’s Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and Quebec’s Directions de santé publique des Agences de la santé et des services sociaux, the Canadian Cancer Society, Jean Coutu, Novartis, and TELUS Health Solutions.

For more information, get in touch with Nathalie Vadnais at 514 985-2466, ext. 248, or at nvadnais@actimenu.ca.

*According to the evaluation reports produced in 2005 by Dr. Mauricio Gómez-Zamudio of the Montreal Public Health Department.