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Firm rewards staff who quit smoking – and cancer charity
SMOKERS at a Yorkshire firm have picked up a bonus of more than £1,000 each after successfully kicking their habits in a venture that has also benefited cancer researchers.
Nine staff at vehicle-tracking firm Masternaut Three X, of Aberford, near Leeds, smoked their last cigarette six months ago and have been tested each week to make sure they have not lit up again.
The firm promised to give them 2,500 bonuses for quitting by Christmas – they would get half and the remainder would be donated to Cancer Research UK.
Managing director Martin Port said he launched the Cash For Quitters to get long-term smokers to give up. Smokers spent time on cigarette breaks at work and brought the smell back into its premises while he had also met cancer sufferers and did not want his staff to face the same fate.
"We just felt it was a worthwhile cause and were keen to help prevent people having cancer in the future and make their life better," he said.
"A lot of time has been inves-ted by the firm and by individuals who went through a lot of pain but now they have seen the rewards for themselves."
David Leeming, 33, of Morley, Leeds, said he had smoked 10-a-day for 15 years. The first fortnight had been the worst period but only one person had dropped out.
"The cash has definitely helped and the fact that other people are doing it together," he said.
Lauren Watson, 26, of Cawood, near Selby, said the scheme was "a fantastic idea". She had smoked 20-a-day for a decade.
NHS staff had helped them with tips on giving up while weekly testing of carbon monoxide levels had created a competition to see who could get the lowest readings.
She had spent 960 she had saved on cigarettes on a holiday and a coffee table and planned to spend her bonus on another holiday.
Professor Chris Twelves, deputy director of Cancer Research UK's clinical centre at St James's Hospital, Leeds, said the company and quitters deserved congratulations.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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