Ballyheigue Kids Win Award For Anti-Smoking Campaign Video

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Members of Club Óg Ógras Baile Uí Thuaidhg getting their Community Campaign award at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards 2017. Left to right, Kai O Fuaráin, Risteárd O Fuaráin, Darragh O Fuaráin, John McCormack, Irish Cancer Society CEO, Kallum Hussey, T.J. O’Halloran and Ann O Fuaráin.

CLUB Óg Ógras Baile Uí Thuaidhg from Kerry has been awarded the prize for best Community Campaign at the Irish Cancer Society X-HALE Youth Awards 2017.

The group scooped the award for the campaign around its short film “Ná Bac le Tobac” which was showcased at the recent event in the Odeon Cinema in the Point Village in Dublin.

Fellow Kerry group the Neighbourhood Youth Project from Killorglin also entered a short film to the competition and attended the awards ceremony in Dublin.

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The Judges indicated that the Ballyheigue Club ensured that their movie “Ná Bac Le Tobac/Don’t Mess With Tobacco” garnered a high level of coverage in both Irish and English language media encompassing newspapers and radio along with good coverage on social media.

The Club Representatives were presented with a certificate and a voucher for electronic equipment and wished  to thank everyone who helped to spread the ‘X-HALE’ message.

Pictured at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards 2017 were Kian Falvey, Danielle Foran, Cian Naylor, Cathal Joy, Oisin O Cearraigh and Caroline Madden from the Neighbourhood Youth Project Killorglin.

Over 300 young people from 40 youth and community groups came together to showcase their anti-tobacco films and projects which they have created to contribute towards establishing Ireland’s first smoke-free generation.

While the rate of smoking has seen declines in recent years, 8% (or approximately 40,260) of children and young people between the ages of 10 and 17 are using tobacco. The Irish Cancer Society has said is it vital that this generation of young people give the biggest blow to cancer possible – by not starting to smoke or by getting support to quit.

Kevin O’Hagan, Cancer Prevention Manager at the Irish Cancer Society said: “I would like to congratulate Club Óg Ógras Baile Uí Thuaidhg on winning their prize 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.

“We need to look at what Club Óg Ógras Baile Uí Thuaidhg, the Neighbourhood Youth Project and the rest of the #TheXGeneration are saying. They can be Ireland’s first smoke-free generation and they are telling us in their own way about the dangers of smoking and they are confident enough to share this message with their peers. They are educated on the issue of smoking and are refusing to let their health be affected by tobacco.”

X-HALE is an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society which aims to empower young people to work towards reducing smoking among their generation, by raising awareness about the dangers of smoking and encouraging their peers to be smoke free.  Since its inception in 2011, X-HALE hasawarded over €140,000 to youth groups and organisations through X-HALE to create smoking related community awareness film projects since the initiative started over seven years ago.

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