AFL Coaches and Chemist Warehouse have continued their partnership initiative for the fourth consecutive year, in support of Men’s Health Week, encouraging men Australia-wide to kick the habit and give up smoking.

Ken Hinkley, a key figure of the 2017 Chemist Warehouse and AFL Coaches Association Men’s Health Week campaign, is happy to be involved in the quit initiative after seeing several members of his family who smoke suffer the associated health consequences. 

“I’ve got a family history of smoking, I know it’s not good for you, and there can be issues created by smoking, that’s a fact. It’s something that can only do damage,” Hinkley, who played 132 AFL games for Geelong and Fitzroy, says.

While the quit campaigns over the year have had success in shifting people’s perceptions of smoking the message still seems to be escaping young men. 

Quit Victoria has found that more men in the state were daily smokers than women after a survey of 4,000 Victorians. 

The survey found almost 14 per cent of the male population were daily smokers in 2015 compared with 10 per cent of women. In smokers aged 18-29, the gender gap was even wider with 16 per cent of men in this age group smoking daily compared with 11.5 per cent of women. 

To help drive the kick the habit and quit smoking message home, the AFL Coaches and Chemist Warehouse Kick the Habit and Quit Smoking campaign is supported by a punters chance to WIN the Ultimate Wellness Getaway (valued at over 12,000).

By entering the lucky winner and a friend will have the opportunity to WIN the chance to unwind with a healthy getaway at Moonah Links Golf Club which will include a nights stay, play and pamper package capped off with an incredible 2017 AFL Grand Final experience.