Jeremy Haigh shares his story to inspire Wakefield smokers to quit in a new health campaign

A former smoker from Wakefield is calling on the district’s 36,800 smokers to quit, sharing his personal journey as part of a powerful new campaign.

Jeremy Haigh, who started smoking at the age of 14, is supporting the Yorkshire and Humber’s first quit smoking initiative, which was filmed and developed in the region. His story of overcoming addiction aims to inspire others to take the first step toward quitting.

Having tried multiple times to quit, Jeremy finally succeeded with the help of his local stop smoking service. Now, he wants to share his success with others, particularly his community in Wakefield, urging them to take action.

“I always knew I wanted to quit for my kids,” Jeremy said. “I have three sons, I want to be around for them as long as I can and one day meet my grandchildren.”

Despite his desire to quit, Jeremy admitted it was a long and difficult battle. “I tried to hide smoking from them for years, but they knew. My eldest two started to worry about what it was doing to my health,” he shared. “They made comments from time to time about quitting.”

Jeremy’s struggles with quitting were compounded by the fear of cancer, which he described as the “elephant in the room.” “As a smoker, you’re always worried about cancer. I couldn’t even say the word, it’s your biggest fear,” he said. Despite numerous attempts to quit, he found himself returning to cigarettes time and time again. “Before you know it, you’re back to smoking again. Years turn into decades.”

However, after years of trying and failing, Jeremy’s perspective changed. “All the attempts of trying to stop in a way educated me, preparing me for the next time,” he explained. “Just do it. There’s never going to be a perfect time.”

Jeremy emphasised that there is never a perfect moment to quit, stressing the importance of making the decision to stop rather than waiting for external circumstances to align. “I used to tell myself I was too busy with work, too stressed, or that I’d wait until summer, but you just have to go for it.”

Jeremy’s plea for others to quit comes as part of the launch of the ‘Turn the Corner’ campaign. The campaign highlights the powerful stories of individuals who have successfully quit smoking, including Wendy and Amy Robinson, a mother and daughter duo from Yorkshire and Humber. Wendy lost her mother to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and both women now share their journey to encourage others to quit.

The campaign, which will run across TV, radio, and social media, includes a strong message that every cigarette takes 20 minutes off a person’s life. It aims to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and provide support to those who want to quit.

Rachel Bowes, Wakefield Council’s Corporate Director for Adults and Health, praised the campaign for offering real stories of people who have successfully quit and showing that support is available. “Their experiences are a reminder that quitting isn’t just possible, it can make a real and lasting difference to people’s health,” she said.

Tony Graham, Director of Retail, Services, and Operations at Yorkshire Cancer Research, reiterated the deadly consequences of smoking, not just in lung cancer but in at least 15 other types of cancer. He stressed the importance of quitting smoking, even after a cancer diagnosis, to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

For those who want to take the first step toward quitting, free local stop smoking services are available. Call 01924 252174 for support.