Ontario Lung Association begins Quit & Get Fit campaign
By Adnews Staff
The Toronto-based Ontario Lung Association has begun an awareness campaign called "Quit & Get Fit," intended to raise awareness of the benefits of exercise to those attempting to quit smoking. The initiative makes use of promotional workers conducting aerobics workouts on Toronto streets, as well as social media activities. In addition, the initiative will include associations with fitness facilities in 12 Ontario communities to operate free personal training and smoking cessation programs in 2012. "Our purpose in staging the public workout was to start a groundswell of awareness and online chatter across Ontario about the return of this successful program," said Andrea Stevens Lavigne, vice-president of provincial programs at the Ontario Lung Association. "It's also a fun way to let people know about the benefits of exercise, particularly to those who would like to quit smoking and how a program like Quit & Get Fit can help them do so. We're aiming to reach this audience online where they are already spending a great deal of time. We will be using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to raise awareness and hopefully engage those who are thinking about, or have made the decision to quit smoking."