Pico Becomes First Non-Smoking Ski Area in Vermont

In order to create a healthier community Pico Mountain has partnered with the American Cancer Society and will be going completely smoke free on January 1, 2011.

“Secondhand smoke causes close to 49,000 deaths annually from heart disease and cancer to otherwise healthy nonsmokers.” stated Kelly Stoddard, Vice President of Health & Advocacy Initiatives for the American Cancer Society. “Implementing this change for cleaner air will result in a reduced cancer risk for Pico employees, associates, and guests.”

 Pico Mountain will become the first ski resort in the state of Vermont to be smoke free. In an effort to reward those who quit smoking, a complimentary 1-day lift ticket or 1-day Learn to Ski or Ride package is being offered to anyone who is participating in a smoking cessation program offered at any of the 16 hospitals in the state of Vermont.

 “Tobacco use remains the world’s most preventable causes of death, and we’re excited to remove it from the lungs of our guests.” Commented Tracy Taylor, Pico Mountain’s Director of Operations. 

The Pico Race Arena will be open on January 1, February 6, and March 5 offering timed runs down a professional course for a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society.  Money raised will go into a Prize Purse for the Hope on the Slopes, an event designed to raise money for the American Cancer Society, and heighten awareness of healthy activities and lifestyles. Hope on the Slopes will be hosted at Pico Mountain on March 5^th, 2010.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.