“I couldn’t miss walking her down the aisle” – Father and daughter share powerful message to urge smokers to quit
Monday, 12 January 2026
A Cheshire dad and his daughter are hoping they can inspire smokers to kick the habit for good, as part of a new campaign from public health leaders across Cheshire and Merseyside.
To mark the new year, Shaun Webb, from Northwich, is telling how he gave up a 60-a-day smoking habit, inspired by his daughter Holly’s upcoming wedding and his determination to stand proudly by her side.
The 62-year-old is hoping to inspire others to kick the habit with a simple message: “Give it another go. You won’t miss smoking as much as you’ll miss those special moments.”
His story comes as Cheshire and Merseyside NHS launches its powerful ‘What Will You Miss?’ campaign, highlighting the milestone life events smokers could miss out on if they continue to smoke, such as a child’s wedding and meeting grandchildren.
Launched to mark the new year, the campaign calls on smokers to take the first step towards stopping for good, signposting them to how and where they can access support.
At the heart of the campaign is Shaun’s journey. He had his first cigarette at just eight years old and, later, went on to develop lung cancer in 2024.
Upon his diagnosis, he was introduced to a Tobacco Addiction Specialist Nurse who guided him through the process of quitting, developing a tailored plan that was specific to his motivations and needs.
Father-of-four Shaun said:
“Being told I had cancer was something I never thought would happen – you hear about people being diagnosed but never think it will be you. My first thought was that I was a failure as I felt that I had caused this myself through decades of heavy smoking – I’d let everyone down and could not bear the thought of not being by my daughter Holly’s side on her wedding day.
“As a dad, it’s your job to walk your daughter down the aisle and give her away, and I was determined that I would not miss that moment.
“I was put in touch with an incredible nurse, Jo, without whom I wouldn’t be here today. She sat me down and asked me why I wanted to quit and what my triggers to smoke were and, with a lot of hard work, I managed to stop.
“Before going in for surgery to remove the cancer, my daughters said, ‘Please don’t go anywhere, Dad.’ I kept that promise – being there for Holly’s wedding and now awaiting the arrival of my eldest daughter’s first baby, due any day.”
Shaun added:
“I tried to quit many times over the years but never succeeded. At the peak I was smoking 60 cigarettes a day and was trapped in an addiction which controlled my life. My diagnosis was the turning point – it made me realise the impact it could have on the people I love most, though it should never have come to that.”
Among those championing Shaun to quit was his daughter Holly, who was busy planning her wedding when he received his devastating diagnosis.
Recalling her wedding day with her dad by her side, Holly said:
“The thought of not having my dad there on my wedding day is unimaginable – anyone who knows him knows that he is a big character and we’re like two peas in a pod, so his absence would have changed the whole day.
“He was beaming with pride the entire time and we’re all hugely proud of him for what he’s achieved – I know giving an addiction like smoking can’t be easy but he has stood by his goal and has done it. I feel incredibly lucky that he was there with me on the biggest day of my life and I’m just so thankful that we were able to create that memory together.”
According to research from the Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Collaborative, 50% of smokers living here say they “really want to quit” with a further 21% saying that they know they should.
The findings also showed how more than two-thirds (64%) have tried to quit before, with 39% having tried to give up more than once, and 13% at least four times.
Dr Sarah McNulty, Director of Public Health for Knowsley and Lead Director of Public Health for Cheshire and Merseyside’s All Together Smokefree programme, said:
“The ‘What Will You Miss?’ campaign is about helping people recognise just how much they stand to gain by quitting.
“For many smokers, it’s not the facts and figures that make the difference but rather thinking about the moments they don’t want to lose. Behind every attempt to quit smoking is a powerful personal reason, and we want people to know they don’t have to face that challenge alone.”
Ian Ashworth, Director of Population Health for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, added:
“Smoking is still the biggest single cause of illness and premature death in Cheshire and Merseyside, with 2 in 3 smokers dying too soon unless they quit.
“Shaun is quite literally living proof that taking that step towards being smoke-free can massively improve your life and give you a better chance at being around for your loved ones – it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve tried, it’s worth trying again.”