QUITPLAN® Services' third annual quit-and-win contest will award one lucky quitter $5,000

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Smokers around the state looking for an incentive to quit smoking are encouraged to enter QUITPLAN Services' third annual QuitCash Challenge for a chance to win $5,000 in cash or other prizes. The Challenge kicks off today at the Minnesota State Fair, and Minnesotans who are daily tobacco users and 18 years of age or older can enter from August 26 through September 30, 2010, online at quitcash.com.

In order to be eligible for prizes, participants must successfully quit smoking by October 1 and remain smoke-free for at least the month of October. Contest participants are encouraged, but not required, to use QUITPLAN Services' free quit-smoking services, including personalized plans, phone counseling services, online resources and free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for qualifying individuals.

The winning successful quitters will be announced around the Great American Smokeout on November 18. Prizes include:

• Grand prize: $5,000 cash
• First runner-up: 40-inch HDTV and $500 GameStop gift card
• Second runner-up: $1,000 Target gift card
• Bonus prizes: nine pairs of tickets to Minnesota Wild games and seven pairs of tickets to various Minnesota Gopher sporting events.

"The annual QuitCash Challenge is a fun way to motivate more Minnesotans to kick their habit," said David Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer of Clearway Minnesota(SM), the nonprofit organization that runs QUITPLAN Services. "Many smokers want to quit and the chance to win a cash prize, combined with free quit-smoking support, can be the extra push that helps them accomplish their goal."

Minnesotans can find out more information about the QuitCash Challenge and free help to quit smoking at the QUITPLAN Services booth at the Minnesota State Fair, located near the corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cooper Street. In addition, smokers will have a chance to test their lung function and pick up QUITPLAN Services breath mints and water bottles. The popular "Big Butt Junior" — a 20-foot-tall crushed cigarette standing in a 10-foot by 4-foot ashtray — will be next to the booth as well.

Launched by ClearWay Minnesota in 2001, QUITPLAN Services offers all Minnesotans year-round, free access to quit-smoking counseling and can provide individuals with nicotine patches, gum or lozenges. Minnesotans can find out about all the free help to quit smoking available through QUITPLAN Services by visiting quitplan.com or calling 1-888-354-PLAN (7526).

QUITPLAN® Services for Minnesotans include:

• The QUITPLAN® Helpline – The QUITPLAN Helpline offers telephone counseling and free nicotine patches, lozenges or gum to eligible callers.
• quitplan.com – The website offers free lifetime membership, helpful quitting tools and activities and the option to connect online with thousands of others who have chosen to quit tobacco.
• QUITPLAN® Centers – QUITPLAN Centers provide in-person counseling in a health care setting, as well as access to nicotine patches, lozenges or gum.
• QUITPLAN® at Work – The QUITPLAN at Work program offers free on-site professional group counseling for eligible businesses with at least eight employees ready to stop smoking.

About ClearWay Minnesota(SM)

ClearWay Minnesota is an independent nonprofit organization that improves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco. ClearWay Minnesota serves Minnesota through its grant-making program, QUITPLAN® stop-smoking services and statewide outreach activities. It is funded with 3 percent of the state's 1998 tobacco settlement. For more information on ClearWay Minnesota or QUITPLAN Services, call 952-767-1400 or visit clearwaymn.org.

SOURCE QUITPLAN Services

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RELATED LINKS
http://quitplan.com
http://clearwaymn.org