Introducing Ron Simonis, Age 59, Milwaukee WI:

Ron Simonis, a Milwaukee resident, grew up in a family of smokers and started smoking in high school, as a result of peer pressure and a desire to rebel against the training rules of his sports teams. Ron quickly became addicted to the nicotine lifestyle and solidified his habit while in the Army. He tried quitting cold turkey hundreds of times in college by throwing his cigarettes out the window, but was only successful for a day or two.

Even though Ron smoked for 21 years, he thought about quitting for his friends and family all the time. Ron finally decided to quit for good 22 years ago when he answered a newspaper PSA about the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking classes in Waukesha County. He attended a class and originally did not think much of it; however, he regularly started attending the classes and eventually ended up quitting for good.

Ron decided to join the Quitter in You campaign because he understands nicotine addiction firsthand and wants to teach others about its effects as well. Ron translated his positive experience with the Freedom from Smoking program into a career and has been an FFS facilitator for over 20 years. Ron advises people who are trying to quit that each time you can get past a trigger, or an urge, the easier quitting becomes. Ron tells people that since becoming an ex-smoker and overcoming the urges, he is not tempted to smoke anymore. Ron wants smokers who are trying to quit to know that the American Lung Association’s Quitter in You campaign can provide the tools necessary to help you quit for good.