“As the only surviving parent, I needed to be there for my family” · Cheshire grandad shares his journey to quit smoking · Martin Austin’s story comes as part of latest public health campaign, Stop For Good · 2 in 3 smokers will die too soon unless they stop
A grandfather from Rode Heath has shared the moment he realised he needed to quit smoking for good, as part of a powerful campaign from public health leaders across Cheshire and Merseyside. Launched on the 19 October 2026, the latest instalment of the Stop For Good campaign calls on smokers to try to kick the habit, regardless of how many times they may have tried already. Centred on a father and daughter enjoying a day of fishing, the new advert highlights the little girl’s grandfather’s repeated attempts to quit smoking, with his empty seat suggesting to viewers that he has died. However, in an upbeat twist, the grandfather appears fit and healthy, beaming with pride at his granddaughter.
And, backing the campaign is grandfather-of-two Martin Austin, who gave up smoking when his wife fell ill. Martin, 72, said: “I started smoking at quite a young age – probably around 12 years old – purely because my friends were doing it and then it became a habit. “It was only when my wife became ill that I realised I could end up being my children’s only living parent and that they needed me to be here. Sadly, she did pass away and that was a real catalyst for me to stop for good. “To anyone thinking of quitting – look at the people around you, the ones who you love and who love you. Quit for them and help ensure you’re here for the moments that matter the most.”
The campaign comes as independent research commissioned by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside reveals how more than a third of smokers (39%) have tried to give up at least twice before, with more than a quarter (26%) saying their main reason for wanting to quit is their loved ones. Across Cheshire and Merseyside, up to two in three smokers’ lives are cut short by the habit, claiming 74,600 lives each year across the country.
Dr Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and Lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside’s All Together Smokefree programme, said: “Our Stop For Good campaign isn’t about placing blame or inducing guilt; rather, it is designed to make smokers think about trying to quit, even if they have tried once, twice, even 10 times previously. “Quitting can be challenging for many people, but we want to let people know that they do not need to be alone in the process – there’s a multitude of ways in which you can access help and support, so it’s important that smokers know what is out there. “Martin’s story mirrors our campaign message perfectly – if you can’t quit for yourself, do it for the ones you love. It’s as simple as that.”
Prof. Ian Ashworth, Director of Population Health for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, added: “Smoking is still the biggest single cause of preventable illness and early death in Cheshire and Merseyside, with 2 in 3 smokers dying too soon unless they quit. “Hearing from people like Martin can give smokers hope that, regardless of how long you have been smoking, it’s never too late to give quitting another go.”
For further information about Stop For Good and support on how to quit, visit: https://smokingendshere.com/ -ENDS-
Media contacts: Gabriella Elia / Steph Cureton at Influential [email protected] / [email protected] 07464548593 / 07753442492
Notes To Editors All Together Smoke Free is a three-year programme with the bold ambition to end smoking everywhere, for everyone. It is a joint project between the Cheshire and Merseyside Health Care Partnership and Directors of Public Health for the nine localities across the region, and demonstrates their commitment to reducing smoking rates across the subregion. Smoking Ends Here is the public facing brand and website for the programme, which was developed in partnership with people who smoke or have smoked from across the sub-region. Launched on No Smoking Day 2025, the programme will kick start delivering a smoke-free Cheshire and Merseyside by 2030.
About Champs Public Health Collaborative Champs Public Health Collaborative has developed a comprehensive and systematic approach to improving public health priorities by large scale action and working together as system leaders across Cheshire and Merseyside. The Collaborative is a long-standing formal partnership of Cheshire and Merseyside’s nine Directors of Public Health and the NHS Director of Population Health and their teams, serving a population of 2.7 million people. Working to the ethos of ‘collaborative action, local impact’, the Collaborative tackles a number of public health priorities with partners that are common to every area and where progress can be best made through collective action. The Collaborative’s purpose is to energise the whole system and influence strategic partnerships to focus on prevention, health inequalities and use of the best data and evidence. To find out more, please visit https://www.champspublichealth.com.
About NHS Cheshire and Merseyside With a population of more than 2.7m people, Cheshire and Merseyside is the second largest Integrated Care System footprint in the country, in which one in three residents live in communities classed among the most deprived in England. Cheshire and Merseyside has: · 17 NHS Trusts (including North West Ambulance Service) · 349 GP practices · 500+ pharmacies · 9 Local Authorities · 9 Place-based partnerships To find out more, visit https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/
