A family from North Yorkshire has claimed that “it’s really about the health, that is your true wealth” as they have revealed how love, support and motivation have helped them to quit smoking while improving their wellbeing and saving thousands of pounds.
Four members of the family have supported each other as they embarked on their journey to quit the habit with help from our stop smoking service.
After smoking 15 cigarettes a day for three decades, Gary Bellwood decided to seek help following the death of his mother, Shirley.
Now off the cigarettes since the end of March, Gary is already noticing a positive impact on his life.
The 50-year-old, who lives in Catterick Garrison, reached out to our Living Well Smokefree service. Since regularly attending the clinics in Colburn, he says he has not had any urges to smoke, feels a lot healthier and is saving £40 a week.
Similarly, his partner Rachel Church, 60, had been smoking 10 cigarettes a day for the past 38 years. She gave up in February after being unable to afford the habit. Since quitting, she says she feels “much healthier” and is looking at the bigger picture with fresher skin and increased energy levels.
Rachel said: “I found the service very friendly, supportive and non-judgemental. “Regular check-ins to see how I’m doing from the Living Well team have been so welcoming.”
Executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said: “Cigarettes are one of the most harmful products on the market – killing up to two of every three lifelong smokers. However, the positive impact of stopping smoking is immediate – with lung function and circulation improving in a few weeks.
“Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can ever do for your health and our Living Well Smokefree service is here to support you every step of the way. With the right support, you’re five times more likely to stop smoking for good and experience better health.”
The 14th annual Stoptober national campaign gets under way next month (October), with thousands of smokers taking part nationwide. This year’s theme is “let’s quit smoking together”.
Smoke free milestones have been celebrated by Rachel’s daughter, Jade Church, who had been smoking six cigarettes a day for the past five years.
She said kicking the habit was the “best thing she did”.
“I wanted to feel healthier,” said the 32-year-old. “I was beginning to feel very tired and groggy every morning with stained teeth, dry mouth and low moods. I was the first person in the family to reach out and seek help from the council.
“It was very straightforward and I’ve now been smoke-free since February last year. I immediately told my mum who took a leap of faith, and the results have been life changing.”
According to statistics, almost six million adults in England smoke and it remains the single leading cause of preventable death, leading to 64,000 deaths a year. Figures from Action on Smoking and Health UK (ASH) reveal there are about 52,000 smokers in North Yorkshire.
Between April 2019 and March 2025, our Living Well Smokefree service has supported almost 5,000 people to quit.
North Yorkshire's director of public health, Louise Wallace, said: “Quitting can be difficult, but evidence shows you increase your chances of success with the right support, which is where our Living Well Smokefree service comes in - offering people in the county the help they need to give up smoking for good.
“No matter how many years you have smoked, it is never too late to give up.”
Gary’s sister, Melanie Bellwood of Colburn, smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 32 years. The 47-year-old sought support after watching her mother battle cancer.
“It was an incredibly painful experience and seeing her suffer made me reflect deeply on my own wellbeing, she said. “I realised I didn’t want my son to ever have to witness me in that kind of pain or carry the emotional weight I had to carry.
“I found the support through my sister-in-law, Rachel. She told me about the council’s smoking cessation service and recommended I speak with advisor Maggie Brown.
“I’m so glad I did - Maggie was absolutely wonderful. Her support gave me the confidence to take that first step to quit and I’ll always be grateful for the way she helped me and believed I could actually do it.”
Since stopping smoking, Gary says she has been given a new lease of life and feels healthier and wealthier.
She said: “I hadn’t realised just how much I was coughing until I wasn’t doing it anymore. I’ve become much more active too. In fact, I walked 100 miles in May for Cancer Research, which is something I never would’ve imagined doing before.
“It’s amazing how much more energy I have now. I’ve definitely noticed the money I’ve saved, which is a nice bonus, but for me, it’s really about the health. That’s the true wealth, and I’m so glad I made the change.
“My advice to anyone wanting to kick the habit is to pick a date and stick to it. That moment of commitment is powerful - it gives you something to work towards. And if you slip up or give in to temptation, don’t let it derail you. Just keep trying.”
Our Living Well Smokefree service is available to anyone who lives or works in North Yorkshire or is registered with a GP in the county. The service can be contacted on either 01609 797272 or via email stop.smoking@northyorks.gov.uk
See more details about the support available from our stop smoking team.