SMOKER Matthew Aindow had his first cigarette when he was just NINE years old.

And at the age of 29, Matthew has now been smoking for 20 years.

Now Matthew is being helped to give up his habit by the newly-formed Bolton Smoking Cessation Service.

Like many of his generation, Matthew was "introduced" to cigarettes by his older mates and, anxious to be a member of their punk gang, he joined in because it was the cool thing to do.

Now, with a seven-month-old baby, Rufus, and a second child on the way Matthew, who lives in Heaton, is very definitely an ex-smoker.

He said: "I tried saying I was giving up for my child's sake, but that's nonsense. All you feel is resentful.

Future

"You give up for your own sake - for the sake of your health, your future. Any other reason and you won't do it."

Matthew, an artist and musician, started smoking "properly" when he was aged 11 and, from then on, it was 20 fags a day, £30 a week without fail.

Indeed his habit had forced him to give up a promising rugby career because, at the age of 11, he found he couldn't keep up with the others because he was short of breath!

It was whilst visiting Heaton Library that Matthew saw the advert for the Smoking Cessation Service, operated by the public health department of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

Over a period of several weeks Matthew joined a group of smokers and a counsellor to attempt, not for the first time, to give up.

He said: "I'd tried before - who hasn't - but there was something about the programme. It's a whole new approach and it's left up to you to achieve your goal.

"I'd used every excuse in the book: I couldn't do without them, I was addicted, I'd tried before, what was the point?

"But it suddenly dawned on me that this time I had to mean it if my own health, my family's future, meant anything to me.

"I want to be a fit, active father, to take part in my child's life. I know countless people have said it before and will keep on saying it: Smoking's a mug's game.

"And although it's only been seven weeks since I stopped, I can say I've given up because I wanted to do it."

The Smoking Cessation Service, based in Lever Chambers on Ashburner Street, is a Wigan and Bolton-wide service which works not only within communities but with particular groups, such as the diabetic service and schools.

A team of four counsellors under the supervision of team leader Kim Hastie, an ex-smoker herself, guide people towards quitting.

She said: "We aren't here saying cigarettes are bad for you, they do you no good, they're anti social. We're saying it has to be your choice to give up, something you as an individual want to do and, once you've reached that point, we'll help you and guide you in whatever way we can."

Indeed the non-censorial attitude, the determination not to preach, not to lecture, is felt to be a real strength which many across both boroughs have appreciated and embraced.

There are already moves for the team to work with the cardiac rehabilitation team and others within the town on a group basis.

Choice

"It's about giving a person the choice, giving them the skills to make that choice. It's about doing what people themselves want to do, not what we think they ought to be doing," Kim added.

Having already organised stands at Bolton Show and Boots the Chemist, Kim and her colleagues recognise there's a very real desire within many smokers to stop.

Matthew added: "I couldn't have done it without them. They helped me get to the point where I realised it was me who wanted to stop. My choice, my decision and I feel better already."

Details of the service can be obtained from Lever Chambers on Bolton 360052.

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