Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has highlighted the importance of No Smoking Day, which takes place on Wednesday 14th March.
Commenting on the Awareness Day, Mr Stevenson said:
"No Smoking Day is an annual awareness day that aims to help those smokers who want to stop smoking by highlighting the help that is available and offering an opportunity to do so and I am fully supportive of the initiative.
" It is one of the biggest annual health awareness campaigns in the UK and with over twenty years of campaigning, and helping smokers it has made a huge contribution towards the health of the nation.
"Around 1.5 million smokers used No Smoking Day 2006 to make a quit attempt and this year its organisers hope that even more will give it a go. Giving up smoking requires much planning, encouragement, support and motivation. Helping others to prepare to give up can be done all year round but the Day provides an excellent focus and motivation for many smokers to stop.
"For those wishing for further information, they may do so by visiting: www.nosmokingday.org.uk
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
