Quit smoking, win $10,000

An international medical institute has opened a contest wherein a smoker will have to start quitting smoking. A lucky person stands a chance to win $10,000.

The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences has partnered with Finland's National Institute of Public Health, which has organised the contest the world over.

"This contest is open to all across the world and any smoker who wants to quit smoking has to do it from May 1. On World No Tobacco Day on May 31, all those who have entered the contest would be included in a raffle and one lucky person from across the world would win the prize money," Gopi Chellan, who heads the anti-smoking campaign cell at AIMS, said.

"But the thing is that every smoker who takes part in the lucky draw after quitting smoking has to fill an application, which is mandatory. We have to wait and see how many actually turn up."

Chellan added that AIMS, too, had decided to come out with special prizes for those who quit smoking during the campaign period.

"There will be no cash prize but we will certainly reward those who kick the habit," added Chellan.