The Cancer Foundation’s “Mission Nichtrauchen” campaign claimed a victory this year with more than 2,200 students aged between 12 and 16 from 114 classes taking part in the challenge to remain smoke-free for six months. Ninety-seven classes held out during the campaign. 

Based on the premise that most people have their first experience of smoking between the ages of 11 and 14, the campaign calls on students in the participating classes to remain smoke-free for six months. If more than 10% of the class smoke during the competition period, the class must withdraw. 

"Every year about 1,000 people die from the consequences of smoking in Luxembourg. Tobacco prevention projects like the 'Mission Nichtrauchen' action can save lives. With this competition, we want to ensure that the first contact with cigarettes is prevented already to prevent cancers,” said Lucienne Thommes, physician and director of the Cancer Foundation. 

For the celebration party on 13 June for the 18th edition of this campaign, the Cancer Foundation invited classes from among the finalists in the capital to the Place d’Armes for a rally organised in collaboration with the City of Luxembourg where the students mastered sports challenges as well as quizzes with questions about smoking. 

The winners for this year were:

First prize — one afternoon in a climbing park — to S3FIA of the European School Luxembourg;

Second prize — a cooking workshop — to 7STP4 of the Lycée Josy Barthel Mamer

Third prize — a hip-hop class — to 6ME6 of the Lycée Hubert Clément Esch / Alzette 

The prizes for the 'Mission Nichtrauchen' competition were sponsored by the 'Coordination Service for Pedagogical and Technological Research and Innovation' (SCRIPT) of the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth.