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Nosker, Gagnon enter into Smokeout challenge

Begun nationwide in 1977 by the American Cancer Society, the Great American Smokeout is held every year on the third Thursday of November. The Smokeout challenges smokers to give up cigarettes for at least 24 hours. Over the years the movement has evolved to where family members and friends, in a show of support for smokers quitting, also pledge to give up something for one day.
On his 'Talk Of The Town' radio show on Monday, November 11th, KNCK's Toby Nosker publicly challenged Blade staff writer Russell Gagnon to participate in the Great American Smokeout and not smoke for at least one day.
Gagnon initially disputed Nosker's qualifications to even make the challenge. "Nosker's challenge is invalid," he said. "Technically, the terms of the challenge state that it is made by a family member or friend, and Nosker is neither. In fact, he's definitely a 'former friend' now."
Since Nosker isn't a smoker or a user of smokeless tobacco products, Gagnon challenged him to stop breathing for one day.
"He said I could pick anything," Gagnon said, "and since he basically threw me under the bus on live radio, I decided he should not breathe for a day."
After some negotiation, Gagnon instead challenged Nosker to give up junk food and train at the gym for one week, and lose five pounds.
Nosker readily accepted the challenge. "I don't really want to have an irritated Russell as my personal trainer, but I'm all in."
"I'm going to teach Nosker some basic martial arts moves, too," Gagnon said. "If he's going to throw people under the bus, he probably should learn how to defend himself."
All kidding aside, Gagnon and Nosker both officially accepted each other's challenge this morning on the 'Talk Of The Town' radio show, then went to the Cloud County Health Center and signed the pledge form in front of Denise Baumann RRT, Director of Cardiopulmonary at Cloud County Health Center.
"We want as many people as possible to honor the pledge and quit for at least one day, in the hope that they can quit permanently," Baumann said. "Smoking results in the largest preventable death-causing disease there is."
Gagnon and Nosker both encourage smokers to take the pledge and stop smoking, at least for one day.
"That goes for smokeless tobacco products and vaping, too," Gagnon said.
"I've had several family members who smoked and vaped," Nosker added, "and I've seen its harmful effects."
Pledge sheets are available at the Cloud County Health Center. The Great American Smokeout takes place this Thursday, November 21st.

 

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