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Local Dromore man, Gareth McGreevy signed up to Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Stop Smoking Service when it was offered at his workplace, Northstone Materials, late last year. In October 2021, he ran a leg of the Belfast City Marathon relay event alongside his colleagues only three weeks after quitting – something he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to do. “I was put in contact with Cancer Focus NI Stop Smoking specialist Bernie, who with her wealth of knowledge and experience, started me on the road to quitting. I was looking for goals to try and achieve and keep myself focused, when Northstone’s Wellbeing Team proposed the idea of a team running the Belfast Marathon Relay Event. Now what better goal could I have than RUNNING 5.3 miles in a team event! “The training started three weeks before the marathon which was also the same week I had my last cigarette. My first run, only a very short distance, was extremely difficult. My issue was with my breathing. I just couldn't get enough oxygen. “I had been expecting sore muscles and sore legs, but what I got was a sore and tight chest, and difficulty breathing. I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I kept up with my training plan and continued to run a little bit further, then a little bit faster each time. Lo and behold, eventually it was just the sore muscles and sore legs I got! On 3rd October, Gareth along with four other Northstone colleagues ran the Belfast City Marathon for Ca