A former smoker from Leeds is backing Yorkshire and Humber’s first regional quit smoking campaign, as she shares her own story in the hope of inspiring others to give up cigarettes for good.
Clair Smith is lending her support to the new ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign, the first stop smoking initiative to be developed and filmed in the region. The campaign launches this week and will run across TV, radio and social media, carrying the stark message that every cigarette takes 20 minutes off your life.
Clair said she is proud of how far she has come since quitting smoking and wants others to know that stopping is possible, even if it feels out of reach. Having once doubted whether she would ever be able to quit herself, she is now encouraging other smokers to take the first step and seek support.
Her appeal comes as ‘Turn the Corner’ launches across Yorkshire and Humber, featuring mother and daughter Wendy and Amy Robinson, who both successfully quit smoking after Wendy lost her mum to COPD. Clair Smith said:
“I tried to quit several times and have tried everything from cold turkey to patches, to lozenges and a vape but nothing worked. I always ended up relapsing. Looking back, I realise I wasn’t ready to quit, I wasn’t in the right mindset and that’s key to quitting successfully.
“My life was controlled by smoking in the past, and I wanted to stop. I knew I needed advice and support to do so. I couldn’t do it alone as last year was really tough. My dad died in February from heart failure after smoking all of his life and watching him suffer was heart breaking. Losing him inspired me to try again, and I was determined to succeed this time.”
The campaign is being coordinated by the Centre for Excellence in partnership with all 15 local authorities across Yorkshire and Humber, including Leeds City Council, as well as Yorkshire Cancer Research. Together, the organisations are working to reduce smoking rates and protect communities from the harmful effects of tobacco.
Clair is really proud of her progress and hopes she can inspire other people to quit smoking as she never thought she would be able to stop. Her advice to anyone who is thinking about stopping smoking is:
“Just do it and have a go. Get help from your local stop smoking service as they can help you find the right quitting aid for you. Attend all your advisor sessions, even if you have a setback. Your advisor will still help you get back on track with no judgement but loads of advice and support.”
Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s Director for Public Health said:
“In Leeds, although the number of people smoking has fallen significantly over recent decades, more than 111,000 adults – around 15.6 per cent of the city’s population – still smoke.
“Evidence shows that specialist support greatly increases the chances of quitting smoking for good and Clair’s story is a great example of how, with that right support, you can turn that corner and quit. Our Leeds stop smoking services are to here to support all those ready to make that positive step to a healthier future and quit for good.”
Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director of Public Health and Corporate Resources for Kirklees said:
“Smoking still causes huge harm across Yorkshire and the Humber. Turn the Corner gives people the support and confidence to quit, and Wendy and Amy show just how powerful that first step can be. Their experience is a reminder that quitting isn’t just possible – it can make a real and lasting difference to people’s health.”
Tony Graham, Director of Retail, Services and Operations at Yorkshire Cancer Research said:
“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. As well as kidney cancer, smoking can lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, bowel, ovary, cervix, breast and, in some cases, even leukaemia.
“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. Wendy and Amy’s experiences show both the profound harm caused by tobacco and the powerful difference that quitting can make, not only for an individual’s health, but for the health and future of their family.
“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. By standing alongside our partners in this campaign, we hope more people across Yorkshire and Humber will feel supported and encouraged to take a step towards a longer, healthier life.”
For Leeds, the campaign is the latest awareness-raising project from the city council’s public health team as it works towards its ambition of reducing smoking prevalence by at least 0.5 per cent each year, the equivalent of 2,500 fewer smokers annually. Recent figures indicate the city is currently exceeding that target, with GP data showing there are 4,493 fewer smokers in Leeds than in 2024.
If you live in Yorkshire and Humber, you can get six months access to all features on the Smoke Free app for free, including nicotine replacement medication as part of the campaign, worth up to £300. Find out more at visit www.yestoquit.co.uk
Get in touch with your free, local stop smoking service here www.leedsstopsmoking.co.uk
By sharing stories from people who have successfully quit, campaign leaders hope ‘Turn the Corner’ will encourage more smokers across the region to seek help and make a life-changing decision for their health.
