Couple continues quest to quit cigarettes

The Silver Springs couple who gave up cigarettes this month as a fundraiser for the high school has so far been successful.

"We've both pulled each other through it," said Kelly Gamble. "I mean, we've wanted to kill each other a couple of times but now it's almost natural."

Kelly and her husband, Robert, committed to kicking the habit at the urging of their daughter Katelyn Santiago after she read an article in the Nevada Appeal warning of the dangers of secondhand smoke.

She convinced the Gambles, her aunt and uncle, who have raised her for most of her life, to pledge to give up cigarettes for the month of February.

But she didn't stop with just her family.

Calling it, "Take a Gamble on the Gambles," Katelyn organized a fundraiser for the service club, the S-Club, at Silver Stage High School.

She recruited sponsors who pledged $1 for every day the Gambles refrain from smoking during the month of February. If they relapse, the sponsors start over paying $1 per day until they reach 30 days cigarette free.

The Gambles are donating the money they would have spent on cigarettes.

So far, Kelly said, there haven't been any relapses.

"We're headed in the right direction," she said.

However, it hasn't been easy.

"The thought comes in my head to have a cigarette when I get in the car or after I eat," she said.

She said Robert has felt the benefits more quickly than she has, especially since she suffered a back injury. She said he's feeling stronger and exercising more.

For a while, she admitted, she was counting down to the day the challenge expired so she could smoke again. But now she's noticing some changes and wants to continue in the long run.

"When I wake up in the morning, I don't have that horrible coughing fit," she said. "I breathe better."

Despite some setbacks, like sugar cravings - "I'm eating things I hate, like carrot cake," she said - the support from each other and the community is helping them through.

"People are asking us every day how we're doing," she said.

More have signed up for the fundraiser, she said, and people have approached them saying they were inspired to quit smoking as well after reading their story.

With fewer than two weeks to go, she's sure they will stay strong.

"There's no doubt we're going to make it," she said.