Post by Trublu on May 27, 2005 14:40:31 GMT -5
Law & Order’s Diane Neal Named Celebrity Ambassador to
American Legacy Foundation® Circle of Friends® Program
Former Smoker Supports Women’s Efforts to Quit Smoking
Washington, DC April 2005 – The American Legacy Foundation® today named Diane Neal, star of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as a celebrity ambassador to its Circle of Friends®: Uniting to Be Smoke-Free program. As an ambassador, Neal will advocate for healthy lifestyle choices by sharing her own story of nicotine addiction and encouraging support for women who are trying to quit smoking.
The American Legacy Foundation’s Circle of Friends program is a national grassroots movement dedicated to educating women about the dangers of tobacco-related diseases and addiction, and highlighting the importance of supporting smokers who want to quit. Each year in the U.S., 178,000 women die from tobacco-related diseases, including heart disease, cancers, emphysema, and stroke. In fact, lung cancer, which is primarily caused by smoking, is the leading cancer killer of women.
In her ambassador role, Neal will be attending SELF Magazine’s 12th Annual Workout in the Park event on May 7, 2005 in New York’s Central Park. This event is an outdoor health and fitness festival for women to help bring SELF’s healthy living and wellness philosophies to life. The Circle of Friends program is an official beneficiary of this year’s SELF event. During her appearance, Neal will encourage women who smoke to quit as a key element of a comprehensive fitness and healthy lifestyle plan. Neal will be back in Central Park on Saturday, June 11, 2005 for the Circle of Friends New York Mini10k Race. The annual event highlights the importance of providing support to women who want to quit smoking, and to raises funds for tools and programs to help them succeed.
Neal, a former two pack-a-day smoker who quit two years ago after smoking for eight years, understands the struggles that women face when trying to quit smoking. “Quitting smoking is my greatest personal accomplishment. It would be great if we could make it everyone else’s biggest accomplishment,” said Neal. “That’s why I am joining with the Circle of Friends program and helping them in this critical campaign.”<br>
Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation said, “We are honored to have Diane Neal as a celebrity ambassador. She is a great example of a woman who has overcome tobacco addiction and dependence. By telling her story, she lends support and encouragement to other women who are going through the same struggle.”<br>
Neal, who was raised in Colorado but now makes the New York City area her home, plays assistant district attorney Casey Novak on the popular NBC series. In her own struggle to quit smoking, she was helped by having support from her family and friends, and using pharmacotherapy aids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of American smokers say they want to quit, yet only five percent succeed each year. But research shows that smokers are 50 percent more likely to quit when friends and family are there to help.
Neal will also serve as a member of the Circle of Friends Advisory Council – a group of prominent women from the corporate, public health, nonprofit, entertainment and media spheres who are helping to grow the Circle of Friends movement.
Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things a person can do – most smokers make 8-11 attempts before quitting successfully. By creating networks of support among families, friends and co-workers who are struggling to break their addictions to tobacco, the Circle of Friends program aims to:
* Help smokers who want to quit succeed
* Empower friends and families of smokers to support them when they choose to quit
* Offer information and practical tools to encourage women to become smoke free
Women can learn more about Circle of Friends by visiting www.join-the-circle.org. To learn more about the Circle of Friends New York Mini10k, visit www.mini10k.org.
American Legacy Foundation® Circle of Friends® Program
Former Smoker Supports Women’s Efforts to Quit Smoking
Washington, DC April 2005 – The American Legacy Foundation® today named Diane Neal, star of NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as a celebrity ambassador to its Circle of Friends®: Uniting to Be Smoke-Free program. As an ambassador, Neal will advocate for healthy lifestyle choices by sharing her own story of nicotine addiction and encouraging support for women who are trying to quit smoking.
The American Legacy Foundation’s Circle of Friends program is a national grassroots movement dedicated to educating women about the dangers of tobacco-related diseases and addiction, and highlighting the importance of supporting smokers who want to quit. Each year in the U.S., 178,000 women die from tobacco-related diseases, including heart disease, cancers, emphysema, and stroke. In fact, lung cancer, which is primarily caused by smoking, is the leading cancer killer of women.
In her ambassador role, Neal will be attending SELF Magazine’s 12th Annual Workout in the Park event on May 7, 2005 in New York’s Central Park. This event is an outdoor health and fitness festival for women to help bring SELF’s healthy living and wellness philosophies to life. The Circle of Friends program is an official beneficiary of this year’s SELF event. During her appearance, Neal will encourage women who smoke to quit as a key element of a comprehensive fitness and healthy lifestyle plan. Neal will be back in Central Park on Saturday, June 11, 2005 for the Circle of Friends New York Mini10k Race. The annual event highlights the importance of providing support to women who want to quit smoking, and to raises funds for tools and programs to help them succeed.
Neal, a former two pack-a-day smoker who quit two years ago after smoking for eight years, understands the struggles that women face when trying to quit smoking. “Quitting smoking is my greatest personal accomplishment. It would be great if we could make it everyone else’s biggest accomplishment,” said Neal. “That’s why I am joining with the Circle of Friends program and helping them in this critical campaign.”<br>
Dr. Cheryl G. Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation said, “We are honored to have Diane Neal as a celebrity ambassador. She is a great example of a woman who has overcome tobacco addiction and dependence. By telling her story, she lends support and encouragement to other women who are going through the same struggle.”<br>
Neal, who was raised in Colorado but now makes the New York City area her home, plays assistant district attorney Casey Novak on the popular NBC series. In her own struggle to quit smoking, she was helped by having support from her family and friends, and using pharmacotherapy aids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of American smokers say they want to quit, yet only five percent succeed each year. But research shows that smokers are 50 percent more likely to quit when friends and family are there to help.
Neal will also serve as a member of the Circle of Friends Advisory Council – a group of prominent women from the corporate, public health, nonprofit, entertainment and media spheres who are helping to grow the Circle of Friends movement.
Quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things a person can do – most smokers make 8-11 attempts before quitting successfully. By creating networks of support among families, friends and co-workers who are struggling to break their addictions to tobacco, the Circle of Friends program aims to:
* Help smokers who want to quit succeed
* Empower friends and families of smokers to support them when they choose to quit
* Offer information and practical tools to encourage women to become smoke free
Women can learn more about Circle of Friends by visiting www.join-the-circle.org. To learn more about the Circle of Friends New York Mini10k, visit www.mini10k.org.