Cricketers join anti-smoking team

CRICKETERS and health professionals are hoping to bowl folk over in a joint campaign to stump out smoking.

Members of the league will compete wearing Smokefree Rotherham-branded kit and give out information about the risks of smoking and how to quit.

During last year’s competition, the organisers were concerned at how many players were taking cigarette breaks and vowed to raise awareness of the need to quit during this season.

This is the league’s second season, with eight teams competing in an 18-week round-robin style tournament.

Each team has six players aged between 16 and 30 which is the age group with the highest smoking rates nationally.

At matches, players and supporters will be able to access information about the risks of smoking and where they can go for NHS support to quit.

The league organisers have also invited Rotherham NHS Stop Smoking Service to talk about what they do. Kamran Razaq, of league’s management committee, said: “As sports people we should be more aware of the risks of smoking, how bad it is for our health and the impact it can have on our playing ability.

“The league attracts many young people who may have recently started smoking or whose friends all smoke.

“We want to give them the motivation to quit and make sure they know the best place to go for help.”

For help and advice on quitting contact 01709 422 444 or email rotherhamstopsmokingrotherham.nhs.uk.

You can also drop by the Stop Smoking shop at 16 Bridgegate in Rotherham town centre.

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