Meet Katie. Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor. Over 20 years smokefree.
Katie McGoldrick smoked for 20 years, and decided to quit after seeing the effect smoking had on her father and his health. She has been smokefree for over 20 years and now spends her days helping others quit.
Originally trained as a Health Visitor, Katie also worked in London with homeless people with addiction and mental health issues. It was there that Katie accompanied one of her clients to a Stop Smoking group and inspired by what she saw, she decided to become a Stop Smoking Advisor herself.
Katie has been living in Norfolk for 11 years now, having relocated to become part of the original team who set up the local stop smoking service, now Smokefree Norfolk.
She has been supporting local people across Norwich and north Norfolk since then, inspiring people from all walks of life to quit cigarettes for good. As she says herself, "To be alongside people when they are making such a positive change in their health and wellbeing is a privilege."
Her excellent work was recognised when she was crowned 'Stop Smoking Advisor of the Decade' at the East of England 10th Anniversary Stop Smoking Service Awards.
Katie is now the Team Leader in Smokefree Norfolk, working with a team of dedicated specialist Stop Smoking advisors all over the county to support local people who want to go smokefree.
Katie has helped more than 1,200 smokers in Norfolk kick the habit - 85% of the people she sees quit.