You’re the Cure NC Remembers One of Our Advocate Heroes: Terrie Hall

Earlier this week You’re the Cure NC was saddened to learn about the passing of Terrie Hall.  Terrie Hall was a deeply dedicated and passionate advocate for keeping kids from starting to smoke.  She was the face of the CDC’s Tips from Former Smokers campaign.

Terrie willingly used her story to inform and inspire others to live a healthier lifestyle. In 2012, Terrie joined You’re the Cure advocates for the AHA’s State Lobby Day where she lobbied for tobacco use prevention and cessation funding.   She was someone that inspired her fellow advocates with her bravery and message. 

Tim McAfee, Director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health released this statement:

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Terrie Hall – a true American hero. Terrie appeared in ads run by CDC for the Tips From Former Smokers media campaign, which encouraged several million smokers to try to quit. Terrie died on September 16^th from the effects of the cancer caused by the cigarette smoking she began in high school. Treating her cancer required multiple surgeries over the years, including the loss of her voice box, leaving a hole in her throat.  This summer the cancer spread to her brain, and despite radiation and surgery, the cancer spread further.

Terrie wanted to save people from having to go through the sickness and surgeries she endured.  She decided to let smokers and young people see her disfigurement and know what caused it, so that they would stop smoking – or better still, never start.  She spoke at schools and before other small groups. But the Tips from Former Smokers campaign gave Terrie her biggest platform.  More than a hundred million Americans saw her ads on television, the Internet, in magazines, on billboards and at bus stops -- and many of them decided to try to quit smoking.  Strangers came up to her in drugstores and hugged her to thank her for inspiring them to quit.  By her willingness to show and tell people what cigarette smoking had done to her, Terrie saved thousands of American lives. 

All of us with You’re the Cure extend our most sincere sympathy to Terrie’s family and friends.  We were honored to have her as a part of our team.  She will be greatly missed.