Quitting smoking is a difficult challenge to overcome. A challenge that Nasreen Walker knows only too well.

“I’ve been smoking for 25 years and tried to stop on a number of occasions, without success,” says Nasreen, 37, from Bournemouth.

“I’ve relied on cigarettes to help me through stress and I’ve always associated it with drinking sociably,” she continues.

“When I did stop for a few days I’d find I’d be around friends who were smoking and in turn I’d begin smoking again.”

Now Nasreen is about to make an effort to quit smoking for good. She is hoping to encourage others to make that step by being involved in Public Health Dorset’s Make Tobacco History campaign.

The campaign, which runs throughout January, encourages people who want to quit smoking to make the next step by choosing why they would like to quit smoking and make a pledge online. Evidence shows that people who make a pledge and receive support are more likely to be successful.

For Nasreen the reasons for quitting smoking are clear: “My main reason to stop smoking would be for my children. I hope to be a better role model to them, because I don’t want them growing up thinking it’s ok to smoke.”

“I hope to be successful this time,” says Nasreen, who is quitting smoking this January with the help of local smokestop services.

“I think it’s important to have support. I’ve been offered it before but haven’t taken it up, so I’ve tried doing it on my own and it hasn’t worked.”

Research has found that children are three times more likely to take up smoking in later life if their parents smoke.

This is a statistic that Nasreen is keen to not apply to her family: “If my children see me quitting and see what it takes for me to quit, I’m hoping it will put them off thinking about smoking in the future.”

For more information, support and to declare your reason to quit, visit maketobaccohistory.co.uk or follow #maketobaccohistory on social media.