We've been inundated with success stories from people who have done it.

Today SARAH SWAIN talks to a whole family who beat a lifetime of addiction...

A FAMILY who totted up a smoking habit of more than one CENTURY between them and went through 700 cigarettes every week is preparing to celebrate one year of being smoke-free.

And, for one of them, it was a diagnosis of cancer which made her realise how important it was to quit.

The McCue family, Anne, 56, Denis, 58, son Stuart, 36, and his wife Rebecca, 29, of Viewpark in Lanarkshire, had all been heavy smokers for years.

Anne and Denis, who work at the Devro factory in Moodiesburn, got through 30 cigarettes daily, with Stuart and Rebecca nearing 20.

In January Stuart and Rebecca pledged to quit –and in February came the news that Anne had breast cancer, which spurred her and Denis into action.

She was told she couldn't have reconstruction surgery following her mastectomy unless she gave up smoking.

Anne said: "Denis and myself had tried the odd time to give up. However, the diagnosis made us decide to go to the anti-smoking classes with Stuart and Rebecca."

The whole family attended the smoking cessation group at the Viewpark Health Centre.

This area of Lanarkshire has one of highest percentage of smokers in Scotland, with 42% regularly lighting up.

NHS Lanarkshire smoking cessation nurse Kate McGee led the class, and helped the family give up, using a combination of the drug Champix, nicotine patches and support from other group members.

Insurance worker Rebecca said: "The first three days were the worst. But soon I found I no longer needed the Champix."

Anne, who has finished her hospital treatment but is still taking the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen, said: "You've no idea what an achievement this is for me. I would get cravings all the time and used to panic if I didn't have cigarettes.

"On one occasion I was so desperate for one while shopping that, after filling my basket, I immediately rushed home to get my cigarettes.

"It was only when got there that I realised I still had the basket and hadn't paid for what was in it."

Stuart, who works for Virgin TV, said: "It makes such a difference to be with others who want to quit.

"You support each other, and, because you don't want to be the one to fail, it spurs you on.

Denis said: "There are times you catch a smell of a cigarette and it triggers something – particularly if you're stressed. But I've learned to fight it.

"It's something that will probably happen for the rest of my life but I know how to deal with it and I don't think I'll ever smoke again."

Nearly 10 months on they're all cigarette-free – and Rebecca has noticed another advantage.

She said: "I love having a fresh-smelling wardrobe.

"When I had just quit, there was a period when I'd go through my wardrobe, find something I hadn't worn in a while and it would smell of smoke despite being washed. That's no longer the case and it's great."

Nurse McGee said: "The McCues should be really proud of themselves for what they've achieved individually as well as collectively. The support they've given each other is one of the reasons the classes are so successful.

"Not everyone will succeed first time and there's no shame in that. But many come back and get there in the end which is the most important thing.

"The McCues have shown that even 100 years of smoking can be curbed in a few months."

Evidence shows that those who attend a smoking cessation class are four times more likely to quit than those who attempt to do it on their own.

Last year NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had the highest estimated take-up of stop-smoking services of any health board region in the country, with almost 25,000 quitters. Lanarkshire had more than 12,000.

The largest number who attempted to give up were those living in the most deprived areas such as Glasgow's East End, Lanarkshire's Viewpark and High Blantyre where smoking is most prevalent.

NHS Lanarkshire aims to help another 10,000 smokers quit by 2014, while Glasgow and Clyde's target is 20,000.

...and here's how you can get help to quit

OUR Clear The Air campaign – run in conjunction with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire – aims to highlight the risks of Scotland's biggest killer and help you quit smoking for good.

Every day in Scotland, 36 smokers die from horrific illnesses, such as lung or mouth cancer, stroke or heart disease.

Then there is the harm caused to others by second-hand smoke, not to mention the spiralling cost.

For help to stop smoking see our website at www.eveningtimes.co.uk/cleartheair or call Smokeline on 0800 848484.

Find us on Facebook by visiting on.fb.me/clearair and Twitter bit.ly/etclearair.

We are also looking for your stories. Call reporter Sarah Swain on 0141 302 6532 or send an e-mail to: sarah.swain@eveningtimes.co.uk