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Anti-Smoking
Speaker Begs Teens to Make Good Choices, Don't Smoke
"If you don't smoke, they will go out of business," Stoddard
told middle school students
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anti-smoking and anti-tobacco speaker Rick Stoddard had one
message for Schenectady teenagers last week, “Don’t smoke!”
He shared the story of his wife’s short battle with lung
cancer and fell nothing short of begging and pleading with the
teenagers to resist smoking and to fight back strong against the
subliminal and not so subliminal advertising that appears to be
targeting children.
Stoddard, whose
wife Marie died of lung cancer caused by cigarette smoking, is
on a mission to reach as many youth across the country as
possible. On Thursday, November 15 and Friday, November 16,
Stoddard made stops at each of Schenectady’s middle schools and
Schenectady High School.
“Every eight
seconds someone in the world dies from tobacco use,” Stoddard
told the auditorium full of sixth, seventh and eighth graders
at Mont Pleasant Middle School on Friday afternoon. He
introduced himself and walked out of the the auditorium while
the group quietly watched a series of emotional charged TV
public service announcements about the speaker’s wife who died
at 46 years old.
 The
public service announcements featured Stoddard stone-face, angry
and hurt with lingering, painful words such as “Cigarettes
killed Marie,” and “I never thought of 23 as middle aged.”
Stoddard said he
is not a speaker but is a carpenter. “Somebody cared enough
about you to ask me to come and speak to you,” he told the
attentive student audience.
“This is a
difficult story for me to tell,” said Stoddard somberly and then
asked, “Who in this room knows someone who is dying from a
disease caused by smoking?” He looked at the floor shaking his
head sadly as almost every student’s hand was raised. “I see
this in almost every school I go to.” He let the students know
that what he has to say is very important to all of them as they
are all affected or will be affected by smoking in one form or
another.
Stoddard told the
story of Marie’s quick deterioration after she was diagnosed
with lung cancer. “It had spread to her liver and she had at
least 20 lesions on her brain,” Stoddard explained. “She did
not have symptoms until she was found after having a seizure.”
Stoddard shared
his memories of the many sad days he and Marie shared after she
was diagnosed and given a very short prognosis. He recounted
how difficult the days were after the disease attacked his
wife’s brain. “After 24 years of marriage Marie, the love of my
life, could not recognize me - her husband.” He added, “She
thought I was her son.”
He talked about
the treatment Marie underwent which included radiation and then
chemotherapy. He shared intimate details of his wife’s treatment
and schedule as well as the side affects she suffered. He
recounted the day she began losing her hair.
“I knew she was
going to lose her hair so I cut off all my hair, put it in a box
and gave it to her,” said Stoddard who still shaves his head
everyday . “When I shave my head I think about Marie and how
much I miss her.”
“And I think
about cigarettes everyday,” he said softly. “You don’t want to
know what I think about cigarettes,” he said and then paused
briefly.
Stoddard talked
about the chemicals in each cigarette and dropped a list longer
then five feet long. “This is the list of additives put in
cigarettes,” he explained to the large group which
expelled a simultaneous sound of surprise.
 “There
are four dozen chemicals in cigarette smoke,” said Stoddard.
“These are chemicals that scientists know cause cancer.”
Stoddard continued, “scientists and researchers have proven” –
he repeated – “they have proven that cigarette smoke has killed
over 53,000 Americans. This industry takes your money and then
takes your life.”
He showed the
students an array of television and magazine advertisements that
promote smoking and cigarettes. As he pointed to one of the
ads, Stoddard said, “and this ad is targeted to little kids -
3, 4, and 5 year old kids.” He referenced children’s movies
that include smoking in them. “What kind of seed does this
plant in a 1,2,3 or 4 year old,” he asked.
He spoke about
many of the ads and gave examples of how they are directly
targeting young children and teenagers.
When asked if he
wanted to sue the tobacco companies, Stoddard said, he doesn’t
want their money. “I want them out of business.” He added, "if
you don’t smoke or chew, they will go out of business.”
Stoddard begged
the students to affect change. “If your generation doesn’t do
something about this, who will,” he asked. “Make a simple
change.”
Stoddard offered
the students advice on how to talk to a loved one who continues
to smoke. “Don’t hide their cigarettes or poke holes in them.
It doesn’t work,” he said. “Ask whoever it is to sit down and
have serious talk.” He said, “show your concern and use
powerful words like I love you and I care about you.”
Stoddard told the
group “I sat silently on the sidelines for 46 years and watched
this happen until this ….. “ as he paused and pointed to a photo
of Marie on the large screen. “It is not okay anymore.”
He concluded by encouraging the students to pick and choose
carefully. “You get one chance at this life,” he said. “This
is a mistake you don’t want to make.”
Stoddard’s visit
came to Schenectady Schools during the week of the American
Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout.
Helpful
Website:
http://www.rickstoddard.com/index.htm
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