LPC Nurse Practitioner Kim Kerrigan ordered 500 T-shirts for
Tobacco Free Day. She hopes that have all the shirts will be
handed out and worn for the October 6 event. The T-shirts, which
are free, will be given out to those who pledge not to smoke.
Next Wednesday, the Student Health Center is partnering with
ValleyCare Health System, Peer Support, and LPC health instructors
in sponsoring Tobacco Free Day. At 10 a.m., students and faculty
begin the 1.3-mile walk at the basketball courts with LPC athletic
instructor, Steve Navarro, leading the group.
Following the stroll, information tables will be set up on
the Quad from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In order to get a free T-shirt,
participants must fill out a pledge card. The T-shirts were designed
by Raquel Stanton, who won first place in a contest for best
design.
The subject of tobacco is one of great importance to Kerrigan,
who is the Director of Health Services at LPC. For a number of
years, she worked with cancer patients.
“I saw many people die from smoking-related cancers.
They told me they wished they had never smoked,” she said.
However, the issue of smoking hit tragically close to home
for Kerrigan last year. “My good friend, Terry, was diagnosed
with lung cancer. The week before she died she told me she wish
she had never smoked. I knew I had to do something.”
Since then, Kerrigan has dedicated herself to tobacco awareness.
“Smoking is increasing among college students nationwide.
Since 1988, smoking has increased by 28 percent,” she explained.
“I hope this event will lead to a decrease in smoking on
campus.”
Kerrigan wants to build a support network at LPC for those
who want to kick the habit. Already, LPC health instructor Eric
Golanty and she have developed a smoking cessation course. The
class begins on October 11 and runs through November 3.
The class will cover such topics as the health consequences
of smoking, aspects of tobacco addiction, and methods for tobacco-free
living. For more information about the class, contact Golanty
at 373-5851.