Quitting pays

A select group of Nunavimmiut able to quit or abstain from smoking for six weeks recently won free plane tickets and thousands of dollars of prize money in the “(Stay) Quit to Win Challenge.”

The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services estimate 850 smokers and non-smokers promised not to smoke from March 1 to April 11. Officials drew names of potential winners, who then had to sign an affidavit and do medical tests to prove they kept their word.

The grand prize winners, announced May 4, include Mary Elena Angnatuk, Joanna Greig and Maryse Gionet for the adult category. The youth prizes went to Nancy Watt, Joe Adlikak Nuktie, and Phebe Surusila.

Grand prizes in the schools category went to Iguarsivk School in Puvirnituq, Arsaniq School in Kangiqsujuaq, and Asimautaq School in Kuujjuarapik.

The health board plans to collect data on the participants over the next few months to see how long smokers managed to quit after the contest was done.