Local Organizations in Michigan Partner to Help Kalamazoo Residents Quit Smoking

KALAMAZOO, MI (05/02/2016)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in Michigan is pleased to announce a partnership with The Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation of Allegan, MI and Borgess CorpFit of Borgess Health in Kalamazoo to expand the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® program in Southwest Michigan. Freedom From Smoking® has helped hundreds of thousands of smokers quit nationwide since its introduction 35 years ago, and now this comprehensive program will be expanded in Kalamazoo to enhance the health and well-being of area individuals and families.

In Kalamazoo, more than 16% of adults continue to smoke despite tobacco use being the leading cause of preventable death nationally. A recent survey found that an overwhelming majority of smokers and non-smokers alike agree that quitting smoking is difficult. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 68% of adults in Michigan that smoke tried to quit in 2013. It can take several attempts to quit smoking before someone becomes completely smokefree, but it's important to remember that every smoker can quit.

Freedom From Smoking® is a collaborative effort of The Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation, The American Lung Association in Michigan, and Borgess CorpFit of Borgess Health to offer a structured, systematic approach to quitting that is based on proven addiction and behavior change models. Participants in the 8-session Freedom From Smoking® group clinic hosted by Borgess CorpFit at the Borgess Health & Fitness Center will learn how to quit in a safe, supportive environment. They will be provided with tools and resources to overcome tobacco addiction so they can enjoy the benefits of better health, extra money in their pockets and healthier relationships. These resources will include a participant workbook, a CD of relaxation techniques, and a voucher for a one-time purchase of Perrigo's nicotine replacement therapy.

To find out more about class times and fees for Freedom From Smoking® group clinics hosted by Borgess CorpFit at the Borgess Health and Fitness Center, please visit www.lung/FFS and click on "Learn More".

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American Lung Association in MI • PO Box 402 • Williamston, MI 48895

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

About the Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation

The Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation was established in 2000 to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations that enhance the health, well-being and education of individuals and families in communities that Perrigo serves. The Foundation is a private, non-profit organization wholly funded by Perrigo Company plc. To date, the Foundation has distributed over $13 million through grants and scholarships. Learn more at foundation.perrigo.com

About Borgess CorpFit at Borgess Health

To help maintain your employees' health and well-being, Borgess CorpFit has developed a comprehensive offering of services specifically designed around the needs of today's businesses: lean operations, aggressive competition, and maximizing employee performance. As the area's leading health care provider, Borgess Health is hard at work helping companies maintain a healthy bottom line through the CorpFit program. Borgess Health is the best place for your employees to receive comprehensive health care services delivered with a unique blend of applied research, advanced clinical care and exceptional customer service.