Stop Smoking participant Vernon Ole’s will reach one year since quitting smoking on Wednesday, March 11, which is national No Smoking Day.
Anyone who would like to sign up to the programme can register their interest by emailing the Trust’s Stop Smoking advisor at nataliewatson@cfcct.org.uk
Reminiscing about when he first started the programme, Vernon said: “My wife looked it up on the laptop and said that the Trust were going to start a Stop Smoking session.
“I thought about quitting years ago. There are different places, but I don’t like being in crowded places, so I thought I’d have a go. I came down, and there were two of us here, myself, Julie, and Natalie, who was running it.
“At the end of that session, I was delighted and I thought, this is my chance. After 65 years of smoking, I thought, this will crack it. I went out of here, had the last cigarette in the packet in my car, and up to now I’ve not had a cigarette since. Thanks to this programme.”
Vernon was rewarded with the Stop Smoking Participant of the Year award at the 2025 Chesterfield FC Community Trust Awards Evening. Vernon commented: “It meant a lot to me, because I was the first one to achieve this (one year since quitting smoking).”
Praising the Trust’s importance in the local area, Vernon explained: “It’s very important, and I recommend it to anyone. I was very grateful to Natalie and the people who run the Trust.”
Finally, Vernon gave his advice to anybody who may be thinking of quitting smoking. He said: “If I were you, I would come down and have a word. It’s no pressure at all, and the people around you will support you.”
