A 36-year-old single father from Snaresbrook has three very good reasons to quit cigarettes on No Smoking Day.

Firstly, Daniel Pittal, of Audley Court, is supporting the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Take The Leap campaign as part of the annual event today.

On top of that, doctors have told him to end his 20-a-day habit after three open heart surgeries because of an ongoing condition.

Finally, he wants to stub out the fags for the sake of his two-year-old daughter Madison.

Daniel says: “My daughter picked up a twig and said “cigarette” the other day and it made me feel sick inside.

“I do smoke by the back door but she picks things up by watching.”

Daniel has been posting videos on the Take The Leap website and the No Smoking Day YouTube page including one yesterday of him smoking what he hopes is his last cigarette.

He will be tweeting with fellow quitters, health professionals and the BHF at #taketheleap today.

He has also offered words of support to the Deborah Hutton Campaign – the cause backed by the Recorder and sister titles which aims to discourage young people from taking up smoking.

Daniel’s condition narrows his aorta and has led to three operations to fit artificial valves at the ages of three, seven and 25.

He says: “I have a disability with my heart.

“Doctors have advised me a good few times not to smoke.”

He is getting help from the no smoking clinic in Manford Way, Hainault, and has been prescribed patches and an inhalator.

The Cut Films competition – part of the Deborah Hutton Campaign – calls on young people to make a short film about the dangers of smoking.

Daniel suggests showing a life fast-forwarded to show a smoker on their death-bed in hospital.

As a voice of experience, he is keen to get the no smoking message out in any way possible.

He says: “I hope that through Twitter and the videos, I can help anyone to quit.”

Visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk for more information.