A former smoker who wants to keep children from following in his footsteps is launching an ambitious program that will use cash rewards to help convince kids to remain cigarette-free.

Samy Bishay, founder and president of the non-profit REWARDS Foundation, plans to offer students $5,000 each if they manage to refrain from smoking from Grade 6 on and also graduate from high school. "This $5,000 reward is an excellent investment in our children,'' Bishay said. "It represents a fraction of the social and health costs of smoking and dropping out (of school).'' Bishay, 37, said plans are to begin a three-year pilot program next fall which will include two classes of Grade 6 students from different demographic areas of Greater Victoria. These 70 students and their parents will be asked to sign contracts agreeing to random carbon monoxide testing up to four times a year over a seven-year period to ensure that they aren't smoking. The carbon monoxide testing is accurate enough to distinguish between normal non-smoking levels, levels which could be attributed to second-hand smoke, and those directly caused by smoking, Bishay said. Under the plan, successful students will receive a cheque for $5,000 upon high school graduation. There will be no restrictions on how the money is spent. The program will include a significant mentorship component, to provide youth "with the life skills and motivation to encourage healthy choices that lead to success.'' "If I'm successful, I will remove the pressure that is on your kids to smoke,'' Bishay said. Bishay said he has lined up several private contributors whose lives were upset by the effects of tobacco, as well as a few corporate partners to help finance the program. One of those sponsors is The Empress hotel. "We truly feel that the REWARDS program is beneficial to the community,'' said Samantha Geer, director of public relations for The Empress. "The kids are our future and we'd like to be part of it ... I think (Bishay) needs the support of the community to make it happen.'' Bishay is seeking donations and grants. Just to provide the money to reward each of the first 70 students will require an investment of $3,780 per child in Year 1, he said. His pilot plan would see 70 local Grade 6 students beginning the program each year. A former radio talk-show host on the Sunshine Coast, Bishay said he got the idea after interviewing hundreds of kids. One of the topics covered was smoking and Bishay said he discovered that most of the children knew even more about the adverse effects of smoking than he did. Yet many still chose to smoke. "They knew all of this, but for some reason (saving) their lives wasn't enough of a reason (to quit),'' he said, adding that peer pressure and a need to fit in seemed stronger enticements to smoke. However, when asked if they would quit if somebody offered them a car, Bishay said the majority of kids indicated they would. Bishay said money is "just a tool." Education alone is ineffective in keeping kids from smoking, he said, but combined with an incentive the two can be powerful. Such motivation might have worked with Bishay. As a youngster in Ottawa he started smoking at age 12. He also quit school in Grade 10 after being thrown out of three high schools. Bishay sees a link between smoking and problems in school and later in life. He believes part of his own problems in high school were due to withdrawal symptoms while in class. Bishay believes the choice to smoke comes from peer pressure, which could be offset by the lure of $5,000. The age group at Grade 6 is critical, he said, because most kids have not started smoking yet. Parents of children who are now in Grade 5 who are interested in taking part in a pilot program or people interested in contributing may contact Bishay at 382-3991. The REWARDS Foundation will participate in the Victoria Health Show, Jan. 18 and 19, at the conference centre.

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