ATLANTA, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health agency, announces the 25th anniversary of the Great American Smokeout. On this Thursday, Nov. 15, the Society will mark 25 years of dramatic changes in the

``The Great American Smokeout helped lead a change in behavior; smoking went from normative to not normative behavior. Fifty million have quit, many of them through participation in the Great American Smokeout. Tens of thousands of lives have been saved,'' said John R. Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society. Over the last 25 years, the Great American Smokeout has been celebrated with rallies, parades, distribution of quitting information, and even ``cold turkey'' menu items in schools, workplaces, Main Streets, and legislative halls throughout the U.S. Celebrities including Sammy Davis, Jr., Edward Asner, Natalie Cole, Larry Hagman, and Surgeon General C. Everett Koop have served as voluntary chairs of the event. When interviewed about the celebration of the 25th anniversary, Dr. Koop advised would-be quitters, `` Start to quit. Cold turkey is as good a way as any other. And instead of just saying to yourself I'm protecting my health years down the road, say something like this: I have turned control of my life over to the most untrustworthy industry on this planet, and they're in a position to take my health, my wealth, and my life. And I'm not going to let that happen.'' An estimated 47 million adults in the United States currently smoke, and approximately half will die prematurely from smoking. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. More than 80 percent of lung cancers are thought to result from smoking. This year alone, approximately 169,500 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S, and more than 430,000 Americans will die of smoking related illnesses. The American Cancer Society continues its efforts to eliminate lung cancer, to inform people about the dangers of smoking, and to save lives by providing the tools to help smokers quit. For more information about how to get involved in the Great American Smokeout, or for help quitting, call 1-800- ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org. The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Please note: A video news release regarding the Great American Smokeout -- will be transmitted through PRNewswire on Wednesday, November 14, at the following times and coordinates: SATELLITE FEED DATES AND TIMES - WED., NOVEMBER 14, 2001 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. (ET) Telstar 4, Transponder 6-C DL: 3820 Horizontal 2:00 - 2:15 p.m. (ET) Telstar 6, Transponder 15-C DL: 4000 Vertical URL for the VNR: http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/5103/5103_press.html FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Joann Schellenbach, Corporate Communications, American Cancer Society; phone: 212-382-2169; email: jschelle@cancer.org

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