Like many people, Fred Haywood never thought he would become addicted to smoking or that its harmful effects would catch up with him. But in 1990 at the age of 36, the Catawba resident was told he had throat cancer and needed to have his larynx and vocal cords removed. Fortunately, the operation and subsequent radiation treatments were successful. Today, Haywood, along with his wife, Doreen, attributes his recovery not only to the physicians who treated his cancer but also to his determination to beat the disease. He says his mission in life is to inform North Carolina’s youth of the dangers of tobacco use, a goal the SAVE (Survivors and Victims of Tobacco Empowerment) program is helping Haywood achieve. As a grantee of the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund, SAVE sends Haywood across North Carolina to share his survivor story with students in schools and community settings. Haywood says he hopes to continue “spreading the word” for many years to come.