Supermodel backs anti-smoking campaign

Turlington speaks frankly about her father's illness

Supermodel Christy Turlington reveals the horror of watching her father die from lung cancer in a new TV advertisement urging smokers to kick the habit.

The ad, to be screened for the first time on Thursday evening, is the latest in a hard-hitting Department of Health campaign featuring testimonials from victims of lung disease and their family and friends.

My dad missed so many important things in my life and in my family's life as a result of an early death from lung cancer

Christy Turlington

Turlington, herself an ex-smoker, speaks frankly about how her father Dwain, suffered and says that the illness has left her with a memory of him as a sick man.

Former Eastenders actress Troy Titus-Adams is also taking part in the campaign, explaining how difficult she found it to give up cigarettes, and encouraging smokers to call the NHS helpline to help them quit.

Turlington, a passionate anti-smoking campaigner in the US since her father's death in 1997, said: "My dad missed so many important things in my life and in my family's life as a result of an early death from lung cancer.

"He was at a point in his life where he really could have enjoyed so many things."

Troy Titus-Adams hopes her role as Eastenders' Nina will help her reach young smokers

She added: "My hope is that I will be able to influence young people never to start smoking and encourage current smokers to quit - even if it takes a few times."

Troy Titus-Adams, famous for her role as Nina in Eastenders, said smoking was "a terrible addiction" which she had found very difficult to kick.

It is hoped the new advertisements will have a particular resonance with young female smokers, after recent figures revealed lung cancer now kills more women than breast cancer in Britain.

Unglamorous disease

Health Minister Yvette Cooper said: "We know that many young people see smoking as glamorous and that's why it's very helpful to have a supermodel like Christy Turlington talking about how unglamorous lung cancer really is."

"Smoking kills over 120,000 people each year in the UK and the government is determined to reduce this toll. 70% of smokers say they want to give up," she added.

Dr John Harvey, from the British Thoracic Society, said: "The fact the Christy has a lung problem at this early age is a sad but important reminder that chronic smoking-related lung disease, can start to damage people's lungs in their thirties and forties.

"This news is a wake up call for the NHS - at a local and national level. We must invest more in equipment and training to help GPs and nurses diagnose and manage early stage emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease."

The campaign also aims to dispel the idea that the NHS Smoking Helpline is a "crisis line" which smokers only call after they have tried all other avenues.

The 24-hour telephone service offers advice, information on smoking cessation clinics, and explains how to get free nicotine replacement therapy and Zyban tablets on prescription.

NHS Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0169