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Pictured at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards 2018 were, from left to right, Jack Bolger, Pairic Meaney, Keith O’Mahoney, Rory Murphy and Peter Hinchcliff from Ardfert Youth Club.
ARDFERT Youth Club from Kerry has been awarded the Online Community prize at the Irish Cancer Society X-HALE Youth Awards 2018.
The group scooped the award for the most views on YouTube of its short film “Think Twice” which was showcased at the recent event in the Helix in Dublin. The winning film was watched almost 3,000 times.
Fellow Kerry groups, Castleisland KDYS and Ógras, also entered a short film to the competition. Last year Club Óg Ógras Baile Uí Thuaidhg was awarded the prize for Best Community Campaign at the Awards.
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Over 350 young people from 45 youth and community groups came together to showcase their anti-tobacco films and projects which they created to contribute towards establishing Ireland’s first smoke-free generation.
While smoking rates have declined in recent years, a new report published by the HSE and Healthy Ireland revealed that 16% of children aged nine or older have smoked cigarettes in their lifetime and 6% are classified as current smokers. Of those who smoke, one in two experience irritability or bad temper, one in three reported ‘feeling low’ and one in three reported difficulties in getting to sleep.
Members of Ardfert Youth Club receiving their Online Competition Winner award from Joanne Vance, Community Programmes Manager and Sarah Chadwick, Cancer Prevention Officer at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards 2018.
Donal Buggy, Head of Services at the Irish Cancer Society said: “Thankfully, smoking rates have declined but there’s still a lot more work to do. These findings are extremely worrying. We know that smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in Ireland, responsible for one in three cancers overall and nine in ten lung cancers. But this report shows the additional negative impact that smoking can have on the mental and physical wellbeing of young people in particular.”
“We need to look at what Ardfert Youth Club, Castleisland KDYS, Ógras, Tralee and the rest of the #TheXGeneration are saying. The entries submitted show that young people truly understand the dangers of smoking and the power of the tobacco industry. They people have a vital role to play on the journey to Ireland becoming a tobacco-free country.”
I would like to congratulate Ardfert Youth Club on winning their award and for making a positive impact on their health and that of their peers. They have been recognised at this awards ceremony for exceptional effort in their project.”
This is the eighth year of the X-HALE programme, a youth smoking prevention initiative of the Irish Cancer Society. The programme aims to de-normalise smoking and encourage young people to drive the movement towards a tobacco free generation.
