The stop-smoking campaigner and cancer survivor given a New Year’s Honour “won’t stop” until tobacco companies are forced to pay “for the damage they’ve caused”.
Sue Mountain, 59, from South Shields was given a British Empire Medal (BEM) this week for her years of campaigning work. Sue started smoking at 11 in primary school, and has had cancer three times.
Sue was diagnosed with cancer of the vocal cords in 2012 – and the mum-of-three had cancer three times in less than six years. Since 2018, she has spoken out about the horrific illnesses she has endured because of that smoking as part of campaigning with the North East organisation Fresh.
After being given the honour this week, she told ChronicleLive that her campaigning wouldn’t stop until the calls for a a levy on tobacco companies, directed at prevention and meeting the cost of disease burden on the NHS and social care” is implemented.
She said: “I found out four weeks ago but I just put it to the back of my mind. For me, this all began in about 2018. It wasn’t long after I got over the radiotherapy that I was asked to talk about this, and it went from there.
Stop smoking campaigners Cathy Hunt, Sue Mountain and Ailsa Rutter in Westminster
(Image: Fresh)
“It’s an award for me but really it’s for so many other people who have done so many things. Most people would do what I have done, so I am taking this award for everyone involved. My mantra is to repeat simply – never quit quitting. It took me lots of times! Its hard! We are now at Fresh reminding people that at New Year, if you try to quit and you can’t, try again a week later, a month later.
“The benefits are massive, not just money-wise, but physical health, mental health. I won’t stop campaigning until we get the law changed so that tobacco companies pay a levy for the damage caused by selling a product that kills two in three people [who use it].”
Sue is also a vocal supporter of plans to change the law to raise the smoking age by a year, every year – so that people who are 15 or younger will never legally be able to buy tobacco products amid the plan to create a “smokefree generation”. She said this would “save a generation” and be “just brilliant”.
Sue added: “”It’s an honour – when I first found out I cried as I feel like a bit of an imposter because all I did was tell my story.
“It’s amazing to know that people have been inspired to quit, because of my TV ad for Fresh’s Smoking Survivors campaign. When I agreed to take part I just wanted to help one person, but I know I’ve helped many more.
“I don’t want anyone else going through what myself and my family went through, so that’s what I’m passionate about helping people to stop smoking.”
Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, said: “We are delighted that Sue has been recognised for her public health campaigning as for the last five years she has worked tirelessly to support our work in the North East and nationally.
“She is one of our amazing Smoking Survivors, who has bravely shared her story to help save lives and we are incredibly grateful for all of her support.
“Sue has also played a pivotal role in the campaign for a smokefree generation, taking her plea to MPs at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health events. The campaign’s impact is a testament to the power of personal stories in motivating change and advocating for a smokefree future.”