A national campaign is urging students to kick butts... cigarette butts that is.
Today is "Kick Butts Day" which is a nationwide event that encourages kids to make a pledge to be tobacco free. Kids in Pennsylvania are also taking the pledge, including those in York City. Many are even posting their pledges on social media.
The campaign give students, teachers, and health advocates the chance to raise awareness about tobacco problems their state or community might be facing.
"Typically in a year, about 28-hundred kids start smoking, and about 700 of them become full-time smokers." York City Health Bureau Director Barbara Kovacs said. "So, they're replacing the smokers who died overtime so eventually we hope the kids will be empowered to say we're not going to become replacement smokers to those who die."
Students are encouraged to take part in the "Selfie Statement" campaign. Officials say the campaign helps educate their peers about the marketing tactics that the tobacco companies use to target kids to start smoking.