SHE used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day, but one woman from Alva has spoken of the day she finally had enough.

Kathy Graham has given her support to No Smoking Day and is hopeful the event will encourage more people to kick the habit.

She began smoking back in the early 1980s, when she succumbed to peer pressure, just before leaving school.

At the time, her friend’s parents ran a chip shop and so she says she had a steady access to cigarettes.

Her father also smoked as well.

However, Kathy said that a combination of the upcoming government smoking ban, and her daughter’s nagging, convinced her to make the change.

She said: “Between the ban and my daughter, I thought I’d rather be the one to make the decision to stop.

“I’m so glad I did it. I definitely feel better.

“I can walk better and, even though I didn’t have any lung deficiency, I find using a running machine easier. On foot I can even break into a trot.”

Kathy first got help from the Stop Smoking Service and her GP but she felt the large patches she received gave her the ‘jitters’.

And after a relapse, she engaged with the NHS Forth Valley cessation service who suggested a smaller patch. From then on her cravings subsided.

Kathy said: “I’m proud to be a quitter.

“I have no inclination for a cigarette now but I think people have to get the right support and the correct props to kick the habit.”

Yvonne Pringle, senior specialist with the NHS Forth Valley stop smoking service, added: “There are loads of ways you can stop smoking in the Forth Valley.

“These include pharmacies, workplaces and clinics and a specialist service is provided in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

“It is important for people to realise that all treatment is free and we are here to help.”

The service is willing to go into offices and factories to work with groups of people who want to stop smoking.

For further information on stopping in Forth Valley call the Smokeline on 0800 84 84 48.