School children in Caerphilly County Borough have been creating striking graffiti art this week to encourage people to say “No” to smoking.
Pupils at Plasyfelin Primary School, Tir-Y-Berth Primary School and Rhymney Comprehensive worked with an established graffiti artist, Lloyd “the Graffiti” Roberts, to produce giant colourful display boards for their school.
They were also taught about some of the 4000 chemicals that make up a cigarette and the effect they can have on the body.
Each year hundreds of thousands of smokers receive support to quit smoking and begin a new healthier lifestyle. This year’s campaign, “Save a Packet”, led by Health Challenge Caerphilly, aims to show smokers what they will gain when they get support to quit smoking and begin their new healthier lifestyle.
Figures show that over the course of a year a smoker of about 20 cigarettes per day burns through the equivalent of the cost of a flat screen TV or a family holiday.
Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services, said: “”Using graffiti art is a great way to engage with children and encourage them to think about the health impacts and financial costs associated with smoking in the hope that they never start. We want all of our residents to live healthy and happy lives and by teaching children from a young age that smoking is an unhealthy life choice we hope that the message sinks in.”