8 — Sunday. May 2, 1999 — North Shore News West Van students hoping to Contest raises teen smoking awareness Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.cam ACROSS the streex from West Vancouver secondary school, two boys are leaning against the front bumper of a van. Wah his foot resting on a Skateboard, one teen turns his back to the wind and hud- dles over bis lighter, cups the fame and lights a smoke. Inside the school, there’s something quite different going on. Grade 11 students, and good triends, T and K are trying to quit smoking. The boys don’t want their names in the paper, because their parents don’t know that they ever started. The two are among seven- teen young people — from West Vancouver secondary, Sentinel secondary and Rockridge middle school — who quit smoking on March 25 as part of a Quit to Win contest. Participants, with the help of weekly incentives, had to be smoke-free for six weeks to be entered in a draw for the grand prize: their choice of a mountain bike, Cypress Mountain pass for next sea- son or a music instrument. Organized by a group of students, the aim of the con- test was to raise awareness among teens about issues related to smoking, and to encourage those who already smoke, to quit. “Tt know 17 doesn’t sound like much but even if one kid quits that’s a good thing,” says Heather MacLeod Williams, regional tobacco reduction coordinator for North Shore Health. She says studics have shown that the younger a child is when they begin to smoke, the longer they will remain a smoker, “When they start smokin, in Grade 8 or 9, they don’t think it will have an cifect on them. Once they get into the senior grades they start te realize, but by then, it’s hai! to quit.” “We started in the sum- mer after Grade 9,” agrees K. “We were trying different stuff out. One thing we tried was smoking.” “It just grows on you,” adds T. “Before you know i it, you're hooked, and you’re saying “Hey, I need a smoke.’ Then it’s not so much fun anymore.” It’s been hard on their wallets and on their health. “I play basketball, and a lot of sports. I really noticed it affecting how I breathe,” says T. It’s even worse for K, who has asthma. “Smoking does- n’t help it at all.” The contest ends next week, timed to wrap up in conjunction with Youth Week —a province-wide celebra- tion of all that our young people are achieving. Parisa Rostambake and Alexandra Eady are the Quit to Win reps at the school. The pair were on the team who planned the contest. “We started from scratch NEWS Photo Mike Wakefield PARISA Rostambake and Alexandra Eady, both students at West Van secondary school are helping some of their schoolmates quit smok- ing through a unique Quit to Win contest. and we thought about what we wanted for our contest,” says Rostambake. “Before you know it, you’re hooked, and you’re saying ‘Hey, I need a smoke.’” What they decided on was low-key encouragement — they didn’t want any teens to start smoking, and theo quit tor prizes. From t-shirts, mugs and key chains to coupons for burgers. bagels and milk- shakes to the season's pass donated by Cypress Mountain Reereation Area, the contest organizers were astounded by the support and donations they received from West Vancouver merchants and businesses. Now, with less than a week to go, 13° students remain in the running for the grand prize. And all of them can look forward to better health. r TXESRMOTIVE ot, rede. | SPRING SPECIALS, * , 7 Lupe, On & Fier $: ay acl rs Bid test antifreeze, Gees tires & brakes, visual inspection | “, Supe: “Lupe inc, of, es Tres extra All above wr, written B.C.A.A., inspection «: : report, rotate tives, top up all fluids "Ine, olt, ve funeup With scope check by one of BC's topAir Care -& technicians, road test & report any findings ite: CoouncTun-Up wr Pressure test cooling system, check belts, hoses, visual leaks, check on rad condition, tighten clamps, drain and fill anti-freeze ‘2, AiR-COND. cueck & REPORT W Diagnose A/C operation. Test temp. perfor- < mance, check refrigerant level, pressor belts, hoses, etc. ALIGNMENT check com- -~ High tech, full 4 wheel computer check out, with print out & road test “Prices cover most cars & light trucks *All service by Govt. registered technicians Govt. licensed inspection station S2564 TALKING Wins. one fais. Appointments 176 Pemberton, North Von. {5 biks South of Marine Orie) 9BS-FASBS Composting Awareness Week May 2 - 8, 1999. For events and workshops in your community call the