Mark Ballas and Mother Shirley Ballas Team Up to Encourage Smokers to Quit During SELFtember™

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Many view September as a time of change and renewed focus, from new back-to-school routines to the changing season. As we all begin this transition, one of the most important changes to consider is your health, especially if you're a smoker. Nicorette^® and NicoDerm_® CQ_® smoking cessation brands are turning September into SELFtember™, a second New Year when smokers can begin, or "restart," their journeys to living smoke-free.

SELFtember™ invites smokers to focus on their own personal health goals and share what motivates them to quit – their "why." In exchange, Nicorette^® and NicoDerm_® CQ_® will provide the "how" at a What's Your Why?™ Smoke Swap event, held in Santa Monica, California. To kick it off, "Dancing with the Stars'" Mark Ballas and his mother Shirley Ballas are sharing their own stories about why they each made the decision to quit, in the hopes of inspiring smokers to get the support and encouragement they need this SELFtember™.

"Quitting smoking was something I needed to do for myself, but I was inspired by the support of so many others, including my own mother," said Mark Ballas. "It wasn't easy for either of us, but I'm so proud to be teaming up with her now to help encourage others to do the same and share 'why' they are motivated to start on a new journey. We're hoping this SELFtember™, smokers will consider quitting for themselves – but not by themselves."

The main event will take place at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All smokers who want to jumpstart a quit attempt will receive onsite support from smoking cessation experts and quit-smoking products and resources, including a 20-count pack of Nicorette^® gum, a 7-count pack of NicoDerm_® CQ_® patches or a $10 coupon towards either product. Visitors can also join free morning and evening yoga classes, receive a yoga mat and, additionally, participate in a raffle for a chance to win gift cards to local businesses.

"For nearly four decades, I struggled to break my social smoking habit. My decision to quit smoking was a major turning point in my life," said Shirley Ballas. "When Mark told me he was quitting smoking, I couldn't have been more proud and inspired by him. That's when I knew it was also time for me to make a change and start living a healthier life. I want SELFtember™ to be a major turning point in all smokers' lives and inspire them to take that important step towards quitting."

"Gearing up for new projects, challenges and professional obligations can bring additional stress, potentially derailing even the best-intentioned quit attempt," said Lisa Maxwell Anekwe, senior brand manager, Smoking Cessation, GSK Consumer Healthcare. "While many will benefit from a smoke-free you, it's important you do it for your own reasons... and this SELFtember™, we're here to help."

Smokers motivated to quit can join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #whatsyourwhy. For helpful information about quitting and to connect with other smokers interested in quitting, smokers can sign up for the email support program at Quit.com.

About GSK Consumer Healthcare
GSK Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest consumer healthcare companies. Our purpose is to help more people around the world to do more, feel better and live longer with everyday healthcare products. We have a heritage that goes back over 160 years. We own some of the world's best loved healthcare brands, including Sensodyne^®, Theraflu^®, Excedrin^®, Nicorette^® and NicoDerm_® CQ_®, Flonase^®, and TUMS^®. These brands are successful in over 100 countries around the world because they all show our passion for quality, guaranteed by science. They are inspired by the real wants and needs of the millions of people who walk into pharmacies, supermarkets, market stalls and go on-line all over the world every day, and choose us first.

Our goal is to build a global, growing business we call a Fast Moving Consumer Healthcare (FMCH) company, dedicated to everyday healthcare with all of the scientific expertise and quality guarantees that demands, working at the speed and with the genuine consumer understanding the modern world expects.

About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: http://www.gsk.com.

SOURCE GSK Consumer Healthcare

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