Panhandle Health District

                                                             8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     May 18, 2009                

Contact:                                                                                  Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Racing Team Promotes Smoke Free Lifestyle in North Idaho

              The Smoke Free 83 Racing team, featuring 19-year-old driver Tyler Bailey, will be in Benewah and Kootenai counties May 22 and 23 to promote the statewide Project Filter tobacco-free campaign.

              Panhandle Health District (PHD) will join Bailey, a Sprint Car Rookie of the Year, in St. Maries where he’ll start his visit on Friday exhibiting his race car for elementary and middle school students. He’ll share with students his message that staying smoke free is for winners.

              On Saturday, Bailey will exhibit his racecar and give away autographed cards at a North Idaho Tobacco Free Coalition Fair from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Cabela’s in Stateline. Other exhibits will include:

• Free blood pressure checks
• The American Cancer Society taking sign-ups for Relay for Life
• The Meth Project
• Idaho Drug Free Youth with drug-testing kits for sale
• Pfizer pharmaceuticals with Quit Tobacco resources
• Panhandle Health District with information on free smoking cessation classes
• Kootenai Health Cancer Center

AM-700’s Steve the Wingman will add to the fun at Cabela’s and Rock 94.5 will be on the scene at Stateline Speedway 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stateline Speedway will give away shirts and tickets to the stock car races on Saturday evening. Bailey will race at 6 p.m. at the speedway Saturday against the local Pro4 Late Model teams. Fifty IDFY students will receive free tickets to the race and a tour of the pit.

              The Smoke Free 83 team started in 2002 when Idahoan John Peterson quit a 16-year tobacco habit with the help of free tobacco cessation classes available in Idaho. The team has grown to two racecar drivers and two Motocross riders that take the smoke-free campaign all over Idaho.

              In answer to the high demand for smoking cessation classes this year, Panhandle Health District is offering a new series of free four-week tobacco cessation classes in:

• Hayden, starting Monday, June 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Panhandle Health District office, 8500 N. Atlas Road.
• Sandpoint, starting Wednesday, May 27, from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at Bonner General Hospital.
• Kellogg, starting Monday, June 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Shoshone Medical Wellness Building, 208 Oregon St.

Classes cover nicotine addiction, battling withdrawal symptoms, stress management, quitting techniques, strategies for coping with urges and much more. To register, call Linda Harder at 415-5143. Visit www.phd1.idaho.gov to stay updated on tobacco cessation classes and Project Filter.