Former Smoker from Wakefield Voices Their Support for Regional Quit Smoking Campaign

Giving up smoking is one of those things that’s easier said than done. Lots of people talk about it, and many have a few goes before they get there. But what if there was proper, local help available to make it stick? A new quit smoking campaign has just launched across Yorkshire and Humber on 08 April 2026, and it’s all about sharing real stories to help people succeed. One of those stories belongs to Jeremy Haigh, a former smoker from Wakefield, who is now throwing his support behind the campaign to help the 36,800 smokers in the area find a healthier path and improve their life expectancy. The 'Turn the Corner' campaign is designed to offer genuine support and show that quitting is possible for everyone.

A local story: Jeremy’s journey to quitting

Meet Jeremy Haigh. Like many people, his smoking journey started young, at just 14 years old. For years, he thought about quitting, especially for his family. It's a story many parents can relate to; wanting to be around to see your kids grow up and meet your grandchildren one day. It’s a powerful motivator for improving your health.

He explained, “I always knew I wanted to quit for my kids. I have three sons – I want to be around for them as long as I can and one day meet my grandchildren. I tried to hide smoking from them for years, but they knew. My eldest two started to worry about what it was doing to my health and made comments from time to time about quitting.” The constant worry about the health impacts of smoking, particularly the fear of cancer, was always there in the background. “As a smoker, you’re always worried about cancer. I couldn’t even say the word - it’s your biggest fear. It’s like the elephant in the room that you don’t want to talk about,” Jeremy shared.

He made several attempts to stop over the years. Anyone who's tried to break a habit knows that feeling of thinking 'just one won't hurt'. But as Jeremy found, that one cigarette often leads back to square one. He said, “I tried to quit a few times, but I’d end up thinking one cigarette wouldn’t hurt. Before you know it, you’re back to smoking again. Years turn into decades.” But these attempts weren't failures; they were part of the process. “All the attempts of trying to stop in a way educated me, preparing me for the next time. Just do it. There’s never going to be a perfect time. I used to tell myself I was too busy with work, too stressed, or that I’d wait until summer, but you just have to go for it.” With help from a local stop smoking service and his advisor Carrie, Jeremy finally managed to quit for good, showing other smokers that the right support makes all the difference.

What is the ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign?

The plea from Jeremy comes just as the ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign kicks off across Yorkshire and Humber. This isn’t just a few posters; it’s a big, collaborative effort filmed right here in the region. The campaign is being coordinated by the Centre for Excellence, working together with all 15 local authorities and the Yorkshire Cancer Research team. Everyone involved is committed to reducing smoking and its harmful effects on communities.

The campaign, which will run on TV, radio, and social media, carries a very powerful message: every single cigarette you smoke could be taking 20 minutes off your life. It’s a sobering thought. The campaign also features another local family, Wendy and Amy Robinson, a mother and daughter who both quit smoking after a devastating loss in their family. Wendy's mum passed away from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung condition strongly linked to smoking. Their story is a heartbreaking reminder of the real-world impact smoking can have on a family, and a powerful reason to seek support to quit.

This quit smoking campaign is all about showing that change is possible. It’s about offering practical, free support to help people take back control of their health and their life. For many smokers, seeing real people share their stories is the push they need to start their own journey. It’s a message of hope backed by a solid network of support.

The bigger picture for health in Yorkshire

The statistics paint a stark picture. In the Wakefield district alone, one in every eight adults is still a smoker. That’s a huge number of people whose health is at risk. Rachel Bowes, who is the Wakefield Council’s Corporate Director for Adults and Health, emphasised the scale of the problem. She said, “Smoking still causes huge harm, with 1 in 8 adults in the district still smoking. This campaign highlights the powerful stories of Jeremy, Wendy and Amy, showing the support available and providing the confidence to take the first step. Their experiences are a reminder that quitting isn’t just possible - it can make a real and lasting difference to people’s health.”

And the health risks are broader than many people realise. Tony Graham, the Director of Retail, Services and Operations at Yorkshire Cancer Research, pointed out that smoking is about more than just lung cancer. “It’s well known that smoking is strongly linked to lung cancer, but it is also a cause of at least 15 other types of cancer. It remains the biggest preventable cause of cancer worldwide, and its impact can often span generations when children grow up seeing smoking as part of everyday life,” he stated. He added, “Even after a cancer diagnosis, stopping smoking can significantly improve how well treatments work, support better recovery, increase the likelihood of survival and reduce the risk of cancer coming back.” This highlights how quitting smoking can dramatically improve a person’s life, even when they are already facing serious health challenges. The overall message from both experts is that this new campaign is a vital tool to encourage smokers across Yorkshire and Humber towards a healthier future for themselves and their family.

Where to find free support in Wakefield and beyond

Thinking about quitting is the first step, but finding the right help is what makes it happen. The great thing about the ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign is that it’s backed by a lot of free support services, so nobody has to go it alone. Help is available and accessible for all smokers in Wakefield and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region.

Here’s a quick guide to the free support on offer:

• Local Services: People in Wakefield can get in touch with their local stop smoking service by visiting yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk or by giving them a call at 01924 252174. Speaking to someone who understands the challenge can make a big difference.

• Regional Hub: For personalised support across the whole of Yorkshire and Humber, the website yestoquit.co.uk is the place to go. It’s packed with resources to help smokers on their journey.

• Free App Access: As part of the campaign, residents can get six months of free access to all features on the Smoke Free app. This includes nicotine replacement medication and is worth up to £300, providing a massive boost to anyone’s quitting attempts.

This quit smoking campaign is more than just an advert; it’s a lifeline. It acknowledges the struggle but focuses on the success stories and the real, tangible support that is out there waiting to help people improve their health and change their life for the better.