By Julie Armstrong

Last updated 05:37, Friday, 05 September 2008

A MAN with throat cancer who had to have his voice box removed is spreading an anti-smoking message with a film made by the University of Cumbria.

Powerful message:John Miller made the DVD with the University of Cumbria

John Miller’s film may become part of the National Curriculum if it is as successful as his presentations in Cumbrian schools.

He started smoking at the age of seven and had to have a tracheotomy after a habit which lasted 46 years.

His graphic talk is aimed at shocking children away from the lure of cigarettes, leave a lasting impression among nine to 11-year-olds in and around his hometown of Aspatria.

The 74-year-old wanted to film his presentation to deliver his warning further afield. He was unable to secure government funding – but did not give up.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham wrote to the minister responsible to ask for funding on his behalf, but was told that the DfES did not fund materials for delivering drug education. He then approached Chris Carr, vice-chancellor of the University of Cumbria, for help.

Mr Cunningham said: “John does a fantastic job, but he can’t reach every school in the country like a DVD can.

“I thought, here we have a university with both nursing and media departments, and somebody who wants to make a health video.

“Chris’ immediate reaction was that he’d do everything he could to help, and I’m delighted with the result.”

Staff from the university’s media department have saved Mr Miller in the region of £20,000 by making the film. They spent months editing material filmed at Oughterside Primary School, near Aspatria, last November.

Now Mr Cunningham is to send copies to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in the hope that it can be incorporated into the National Curriculum.

John added: “I am so pleased with the quality of what they have produced.”

He hopes the DVD, John Miller’s Story, will be available to download free from the university’s website.

David Robert, senior technical demonstrator, said: “I was pleased to give up my time for such a worthy cause, and for John – his will and drive is so compelling.”

Nick Sutton, headteacher at Oughterside Primary School, said: “Many of our former pupils now at secondary school still say that they will never smoke – not because of messages on cigarette packets, but because of remembering John and his lesson.”