Smoking can be a difficult habit to break, but University Health Services hopes to aid students to do just that.

UHS is sponsoring its second annual Quit and Win Challenge. The purpose of the program is to give students support as they try to break their addiction to nicotine.

"For some people, cessation groups and programs may be the boost that they need to get themselves going in another direction," said Chris Owens, community health educator and committee chair of the challenge.

Owens believes the program is great for those who have ideas about quitting smoking.

"We're offering them an opportunity to put their best foot forward," he said.

Smokers can be referred to the program by a friend submitting a request. The smoker receives an e-mail, asking them to take part in the challenge. But the change in habits cannot come directly from friends.

"The smokers themselves have to be internally motivated to quit," said Linda LaSalle, UHS community health educator.

LaSalle said the e-mail referrals can be quite important.

"I think it is helpful for smokers to know that their friends are concerned enough about them to refer them to the program," she said.

"Who wants to be a $urvivor" is the theme of the program. The name is taken from two television game shows, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Survivor. The dollar sign comes from the vast array of prizes that the participants can win, Owens said.

Local businesses are contributing prizes.

Woodring's Floral Gardens, 145 S. Allen St., is donating various gifts for the second consecutive year.

"(We) try to be as helpful as we can," Stephanie Woodring, manager of Woodring's, said.

Nicholas Ignazzi, owner of V & S Sandwiches, 128 E. College Ave., made a contribution to the cause as well.

"I think the students are very important to the town and having a good rapport really makes a difference to our business," he said.

During the month-long program, students will receive two quit kits -- one in the beginning, and one during the middle. The kits contain gum, candy, games and other small items.

"We basically have things to keep their hands, mind and mouth occupied," Owens said.

The participants will not be going through withdrawal alone. They will have a quit coach to assist them and provide encouragement.

Teresa Hilgren, staff assistant at Career Services, said she had a special desire to be a coach.

"I thought (who) better than myself, who quit smoking, to be a coach," she said.

Though Hilgren has not smoked in years, the yearning to do so still lingers from time to time.

"Sixteen years and I still have those dreams (about smoking)," she said. "So I understand how hard it is for someone to quit smoking."

The students will have their carbon monoxide (CO) levels tested throughout the month. The test consists of students blowing into a small electronic device and that the devices measure the CO levels. The whole process takes about one minute, Owens said.

Attempting to kick the cigarette habit is something worth doing, Hilgren said.

"If you're think about quitting, do it or at least try," she said. "Being a quitter is a good thing."