An open letter to vapers: your job is not finished
Posted on November 14, 2018
Dear vapers,
We are absolutely delighted that vaping has finally helped you quit smoking. You are feeling great, no longer smell of tobacco, saved a fortune and still can’t believe you did it. Great work, well done! However... your job isn't finished!
Now it's time to offer the vaping lifeline to other smokers.
Remember how you struggled with smoking until you discovered vaping? There are still 3 million smokers in Australia and 19,000 will be killed by smoking every year. Most want to quit, but simply can't.
Most smokers are unaware of vaping, are misinformed about it or don’t know how to access it. You can throw them a lifeline – literally! For every 3 smokers you help to quit by vaping, you are preventing TWO people dying prematurely from those horrible cancer sticks.
If all Australian smokers switched to vaping, 2 million premature deaths would be prevented!
What can I do?
Here are some suggestions.
1. Donate to ATHRA
Please consider donating some of your ash cash (saved smoking money) to ATHRA so we can help other smokers switch. Perhaps a monthly payment of 5-10% of your former cigarette money? ATHRA is a registered health promotion charity and all gifts over $2 are tax-deductible. Donations of any size are appreciated.
We are aiming to collect $25,000 by the end of the year to fund our campaigns and raise awareness of vaping.
We educate the public, health professionals, members of parliament, make submissions to inquiries, speak at conferences and advocate for vaping as an evidence-based tool which should be freely available to Australian smokers.
But we can’t do it without your help.
Click here to Make a secure Donation via PayPal or Credit Card
Do you have a good2give workplace giving account? Businesses and employees can now make tax-deductible donations directly to ATHRA via the good2give workplace giving program. Click here to donate.
Ask others to donate. Do you have a rich uncle? Is there a better cause?
2.Tell ATHRA how we can help
Any feedback or suggestions on how ATHRA can help you or others is welcome. Click here to contact us or leave a reply below.
3. Visit or write to your local MP
Real stories are compelling and can have a huge impact on policymakers. Visit your federal and/or state MP.
4. Write a letter to your local newspaper
Tell your story, correct misinformed news reports, spread the word!
5. Tell your story to other smokers at every opportunity
Most would dearly love to quit, but have tried and failed repeatedly do so. Vaping could change their lives. Consider passing on an old vape and a little juice you don’t use anymore to a smoker. Show them how to use it and keep in touch for ongoing support. Click here for more about Vaping it Forward.
Research has consistently found that helping others is even more beneficial to the helper. Giving is good for you. It releases endorphins in the brain, improves your physical and mental health and self esteem.
Best wishes
Colin, Alex, Joe, Catherine, Steve
The ATHRA Board
2 Replies to “An open letter to vapers: your job is not finished”
I used to have chronic bronchitis & wheezing when I breathed.
My Doctor told me that I'll have emphasemia if I don't stop smoking.
That was over 2 years ago. Since then I took up vapping. My wheezing went & I don't have chronic bronchitis any more.
I have tried to quit smoking over the 30 years that I smoked,numerous times and could not succeed.
Thanks to vapping,I breathing is normal to that of a non smoker & I should not suffer from emphasemia.
I do all those things, even help vapers who are struggling, run out of coils. I can't donate money being on a pension but I support vaping 100% made a website and fb page.