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Show MovemEseir 1 7: ay To Stop SbhoEiSbiu Dan Valentine, syndicated columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune, who says he smokes a pack a day, has agreed to give up cigarettes for one day on November 17 as Honorary State Chairman of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. What's more, he has enlisted wife Elaine in the campaign. MR. Valentine, whose column "Nothing Serious" has reached millions of readers over the years, approves of Cancer Society efforts to get Utah smokers to pledge a day without smoking. "Most of us who smoke have considered giving up the habit," he said, "but the thought of never lighting another cigarette is too hard to face. The Cancer Society is telling us to take a day at a time." MEMBERS of the media throughout the state. ..newspapers, ..news-papers, radio and television.. .are being asked to pledge abstinence from smoking for a day and share their misery, and their triumph, with the public. The idea of asking smokers to quit for a day originated with the Cancer Society in Minnesota some years back. Their "D-Day" campaign was a big success and brought them national attention. LAST year, California staged a similar event with such encouraging results that the American Cancer Society has asked every state to make November 17, 1977 a "Smokeless Thursday" and participate in the Great American Smokeout. Pledge cards are an important impor-tant part of the Great American Smokeout, and will be distributed by volunteers throughout Utah. The pledge card represents a psychological commitment on the part of the smoker. DAN Valentine agrees with Dr. Leland B. Cowan, president of the Utah Division of the American Cancer Society, who says, "Quitting, for even one day, gives people a sense of control and that's important." He adds, "The effects of cigarette smoking on public health are disastrous. We are losing more than a quarter of a million Americans each year to this deadly habit. Quitting, for even a short time, is a start in the right direction." FOR more information, contact the Utah Division of the American Cancer Society, 610 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. The phone number is 322-0431. They can supply posters, pledge cards, colorful stickons, all of which will remind people to observe The Great American Smokeout. |