Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Honors Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT of Lawton, OK As Youth...

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Honors Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT of Lawton, OK As
Youth Advocates of the Year

-Leadership in Fight Against Tobacco Recognized Nationally-

WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the Lawton-Ft. Sill
Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Team of Lawton, OK have been named
Youth Advocates of the Year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for their
leadership in the fight against tobacco. Members of Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT are
being honored at a gala in the nation's capital on May 20 along with a
national winner, international grant winner and four regional winners.

The Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT Team, supported by the Tobacco Prevention Program at
Comanche County Memorial Hospital, is fighting the tobacco industry through
interactive community projects, educational trainings and policy advocacy. One
of their most successful projects has been their annual legislative
breakfasts. This year the group called on legislators to support both a
tobacco-free park initiative and Oklahoma becoming smoke-free. Last December,
the group created a tribute wall in a local mall where hundreds of people
participated by dedicating a tile to those who have resisted tobacco, quit
using tobacco or died from a tobacco-related illness. Most recently, the
Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT Team completed an extensive Kick Butts Day event that
included an art exhibit, a testimonial wall and a What's In a Cigarette
display.

More than 400 public health, political, civic and business leaders will attend
the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids' twelfth annual anniversary gala in
Washington, D.C., to recognize these young leaders. The winners will receive
educational scholarships and grants to continue their prevention efforts and
serve as ambassadors for the Campaign.

"Members of the Lawton-Ft. Sill SWAT Team and other young leaders from across
the nation are making great strides against youth tobacco addiction and their
voices are being heard," said Matthew L. Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
president. "Every day, 1,000 kids in the United States become regular smokers
and one-third of them will die prematurely from tobacco-caused disease. Almost
90 percent of adult smokers began at or before the age of 18. Youth are
powerful allies in the fight to turn these trends around."

In Oklahoma, over 28 percent of high school students smoke, and 6,200 kids
become daily smokers every year. Every year, tobacco use kills 5,800
residents and costs the state over $1 billion in health care bills.
Nationally, tobacco use kills more than 400,000 people and costs the nation
more than $96 billion in health care costs each year.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco
use and its devastating consequences in the United States and around the
world. By changing public attitudes and public policies on tobacco, the
Campaign strives to prevent kids from smoking, help smokers quit and protect
everyone from secondhand smoke.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Nicole Dueffert of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, +1-202-296-5469