UK HealthCare

Quit and Win Contest Winners Announced at Reception

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2015) - University of Kentucky employees who successfully quit smoking and/or using tobacco for 30 days as part of UK’s Quit and Win contest were honored at a reception at the UK Student Center on Tuesday afternoon.

“Quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do for your health,” said Janie Heath, dean of the UK College of Nursing, who recognized contest winners at the reception. “We are here today to celebrate your success. We believe in you.”

Winners of five cash prizes provided by UK HealthCare were announced.

The winner of the $1,000 prize was Lauran Devine, a nursing care technician at UK HealthCare. The $500 cash prize winners were:  Clarence Barton Switzer Jr., a carpenter with the UK Physical Plant Division; and Christine Johnson, human resources manager in the UK College of Fine Arts

           

The $250 cash prize winners were: Pamela Thompson, a medical technologist at UK HealthCare; and Benjamin Travers, a patient clerical assistant at UK HealthCare

“I am happy UK recognized the hard effort it is to quit smoking and helped motivate my desire to quit …I feel better than I have in a long time, and I would like to encourage others to quit smoking as well,” said Johnson. 

UK supports its employees who want to quit using tobacco products by offering free tobacco treatment programs and medications. If individuals enroll in one of the programs, they can receive up to 12-weeks of FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Anyone can also purchase low-cost NRT at on-campus pharmacies, hospital gift shops, and convenience stores to manage cravings while on UK’s tobacco-free campus. Learn more here: www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree.

UK’s Quit and Win Contest marked the end of UK’s five year tobacco-free anniversary celebration starting on Nov. 20, 2014. UK HealthCare and UK’s Tobacco-free Task Force joined together to sponsor the first ever Quit and Win Contest at UK. The Contest ran from Jan. 16 to Feb. 16 and was open to UK faculty and staff, including employees of any affiliated corporation, 18 years of age or older and current tobacco users. Contest enrollees and their buddies received weekly tips to quit and resources to help them via email during the 30-day contest. For more information on the contest: http://www.uky.edu/TobaccoFree/quit_win.html.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at 859-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu