A journalist from Wales has managed to give up smoking – and raise a wedge of money for charity whilst he was at it.

Brian Walters, the political editor of the South Wales Evening Post, decided to quit the evil weed but was realistic enough to realise that he lacked the will power to do it by himself.

So he decided to seek sponsorship for his attempt to give up – the thinking being that if he couldn’t do it for himself, he might be able to do it for somebody else.

The deal was that he would get his friends and colleagues to sponsor him not to have a cigarette for a full four months.

If he went the distance then he would hand over the total amount raised to a charity of Welsh health minister Jane Hutt’s choice.

And it worked – Brian had quit smoking and raised £750 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

He said: “To have so much support from so many people really did make me even more determined to give up the demon weed.

“The knowledge that so many friends and colleagues were willing me to quit truly was an incentive and instilled greater faith in myself.

“I like to think I’ve given up for good, and if I can do it then anybody can.

“But the real test will come overnight on June 7 and 8 – election night.

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