ClearWay Minnesota(SM) Celebrates QUITPLAN(R) Services at t...( Personal stories of QUITPL...),Health

Personal stories of QUITPLAN Services users on display

MINNEAPOLIS, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, ClearWay Minnesota will celebrate the efforts of Minnesotans who used the free, professional counseling from QUITPLAN(R) Services to successfully quit smoking with a series of photo exhibits in the State Capitol. The exhibits are on display from Sunday, March 16 - Sunday, March 30 in the North Corridor of State Capitol near the Rotunda.

"The Capitol display is an excellent opportunity for legislators and the public to learn about what ClearWay Minnesota has accomplished," said David Willoughby, ClearWay Minnesota Chief Executive Officer. "We've made tremendous progress in Minnesota by providing effective options for tobacco users to quit through our QUITPLAN Services. Now, we're looking forward to celebrating these success stories with our displays."

Three Minnesotans who struggled to go smoke-free are featured in personal photo exhibits, with information from the time they started smoking to their state of physical and emotional well-being today. In addition, another photo collage display represents more than 10,000 Minnesotans who have quit smoking with help from QUITPLAN Services.

The featured participants, who used QUITPLAN Services to help them stop smoking, include:
-- Robert Murphy: A former Twin Cities radio personality, he received

packages containing free cigarettes from the tobacco companies for more

than two decades, and developed a two-to-three pack habit for 45 years.

Although he still struggles with smoking from time to time, he has

found help through the QUITPLAN Helpline.

-- Yvonne Kennedy: Persuaded by friends to try a cigarette at age 12, she

continued smoking for 16 years, even through the birth of five

children. She quit for six months during her last pregnancy when she

learned she was having twins -- but, as soon as they
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