Teen REBEL members from Cumberland Country decided to stop smoking. They exposed more than 1,200 pairs of shoes in Cumberland Mall. Each pair of shoes represented the number of people who die every day from tobacco-related illnesses.

REBEL is an anti-tobacco group of young people that was formed in order to raise awareness among students, family and community members about the dangers of tobacco products.

Vanessa Devericks, 17, a senior REBEL member from Millville Senior High School, said: "We wanted Project 1200 to make people realize how bad tobacco is."

In the statewide REBEL program participates 5 Cumberland County high schools and 10 middle schools. REBEL is a program where young people planning events and interactive activities in order to raise interest in the community.

"I want to help prevent teens from falling into the trap big tobacco companies set for them," said Jazcelyn Rayes, 17, a junior from Vineland High School.

REBEL members from Vineland, Bridgeton, Millville Senior, Cumberland Regional and Sacred Heart high schools set up informational tables and answered questions people had concerning tobacco companies and their tendency to target teens.

"This organization goes beyond showing the students graphic pictures of the consequences of smoking tobacco. We really educate the kids about the ads that are so obviously targeting their age group, and it gets them mad," said Lauren Radano, REBEL Youth Coordinator for Cumberland County.

"This leads to a passionate disapproval for tobacco-related products," added Radano.

According to a study many students that are involved in REBEL program have friends or parents who smoke. But this didn’t stop them to give up.

Robinson, REBEL Advisor for Mill-ville Senior High School, said: "The students often don't know how to tell their parents they don't want them to smoke. Joining this group sends a clear message to the people they love that they do not approve of tobacco use."

In many cases the cause of people death is smoking. Many of REBEL’S young members saw with their eyes haw dangerous can be cigarettes.

"My grandmother died from smoking cigarettes and I just wanted to help spread awareness," said Marc Romano, 14, a Cumberland Regional High School freshman.

Miguel Figueroa, 21, from Vineland passed by the display and stopped to learn more.

"I didn't know that many people died a day, from tobacco-related illnesses," he said.

"I don't smoke, but my friend that just left does and I'm definitely going to have to tell him about this," Figueroa said.