Dear John, 

My name is Bre Cutright, and I’ve been part of the tobacco prevention movement since I was in sixth grade in West Virginia.

When I started, I didn't know much about advocacy. I had no idea how much it would change my life and the lives of people I love.

But when I learned the real effects of tobacco use through my state's tobacco prevention program and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids – and when I saw the difference I could make – everything clicked.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works to empower a new generation of leaders fighting for change in communities all over the world. Your support is an investment in advocates like Bre.

When I was little, smoking felt normal. My grandpa smoked for as long as I could remember. But when my dad started smoking again when I was in middle school, something started to feel wrong. 

I joined my middle school’s Raze chapter – a state-funded, youth-led tobacco prevention program that empowers students to educate their communities and take action against Big Tobacco. I remember handing my grandpa a Raze-branded pencil that said “Erase Tobacco Lies.” It was simple, but it opened the door to conversations he hadn’t been ready to have.

With support, my grandpa quit smoking. After multiple strokes and years of declining health, he was suddenly coming back to life. My dad has since quit too.

That experience inspired me to keep going. 

For years, Raze helped thousands of West Virginia kids like me find our voices. We created posters, ran activities in our schools, and worked together to share the truth about tobacco using resources from organizations like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. There were more than 30 chapters across the state, all working to protect our communities.

But this year, everything changed.

Because of nationwide funding cuts that took money from local tobacco prevention programs, the entire Raze program here in West Virginia was forced to shut down. We tried to save it – but in the end, we lost a huge part of the local support system that helped us make a difference. 

We aren’t giving up though. As I’ve told many people, "We will find ways to do it anyway."

And that's where the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids comes in – yet again. They're not only fighting to restore and increase funding for programs like Raze, they provide direct support, training, and advocacy opportunities for young people like me.

Your gift to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids will help make sure young advocates can keep fighting, no matter what cuts or setbacks come their way.

Sitting alongside national experts and sharing my experience as a young advocate reminded me how powerful youth voices can be – and how urgently they’re needed.

Back home, I'm now working with other youth to create independent clubs in schools so youth advocacy can continue, even without state funding. 

Like I said, we will do this work anyway.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids helps sustain youth programs, strengthen grassroots organizing, and ensure that kids in states like West Virginia don’t lose their voice. 

Thank you for believing in us. 

I’m going to keep fighting for my family and for families across the country. 

With gratitude,

Bre

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