• What?

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• What?

Quit & Win is an international smoking cessation initiative involving more than one million smokers that will take place in about 100 countries.

• One-third of the world’s adult population, 1.1 billion people, are smokers.
• Half of all smokers are killed by their tobacco use.
• 50,000 Americans die each year from exposure to other people’s tobacco smoke.

These figures are shocking, but they do not motivate smokers to quit. They need encouragement and support to overcome this powerful addiction. Quit & Win is a positive way to help many people stop smoking and win back their health.

• When?

To be eligible for prize drawings, you must be completely smoke free between May 2 and May 29, 2002. Smoke-free status will be verified by a witness and by a simple urine or breath test.

• Why?

At $2.75 a pack, a two-pack per day smoker spends over $2,000 a year on cigarettes.

If that money were put into savings instead, it could grow into a nest egg of more than $110,000 within 25 years!

By quitting smoking, you can also improve your chances of being around to enjoy your retirement.

• What?

The Minnesota Department of Transportation, the city of Rochester, the Mayo Clinic and IBM are teaming up to make it easier for Rochester commuters to bicycle to work this year during Commuter Choice – BBOP (bus, bike or pool) Day, Thursday, May 16, 2002.

Mn/DOT and its partners are organizing focused bike rides to several Rochester work locations. The purpose is to demonstrate how to commute to work by bicycle. The focused rides will also serve to introduce riders to others in their neighborhood who have the same/similar destination.

“A lot of people may be interested in bicycle commuting, but need some help to get motivated,” explains Charlie Quigg, State Bicycle Advisory Committee member and bike ride organizer. “Too much of our travel is centered around single occupant vehicles. We need to think about other transportation modes and consider bicycling as an alternative.”

Before the ride, bike ride participants will be informed about all aspects of bicycle commuting including best departure times, routes to ride, traffic safety, apparel, leaving/locking a bike, and showering/changing.

• Where?

Quigg says cyclists will assemble in outlining areas and commute by bicycle to the following locations:

• Mayo Clinic, city/county government center and other downtown businesses
• IBM, Celestica other NW Rochester businesses
• Federal Medical Center, city/county government campus (east) and Rochester University Center

• When?

• How?

The best way to register for the focused bicycle rides is to fill out a form online at http://b-bop.netfirms.com/bikeform.html. People can also call Mn/DOT at 507/292-5112.

A ride leader will contact registered riders advising them of the time and meeting place to start the ride. Free USA flag pins (to be distributed the morning of the ride) to the first 100 people to sign up. In case of inclement weather, focused rides will be Friday, May 17.

• For more info

• What?

Blue Cross/Blue Shield is presenting Becky Hoffman of CardioVision 2020 with the Champion of Health Award. Dr. Steve Eisenberg will present the award to Becky at The Canadian Honker restaurant.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield will also be featuring Becky in a video. They will be in Rochester on Monday, April 22, 2002 to film her as she works in the community.

Congratulations Becky and many thanks for the thousands of hours you’ve invested in Olmsted County to make it a better place to live for everyone!

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