14.10.2026 12:33
Cemal Yıldırım, 53, who lives in the Tatvan district of Bitlis, quit smoking after 30 years following doctors' warning, "Your condition is more serious than your mother's." Yıldırım, who underwent angiography four times due to heart disease, changed his life by turning to sports; today he walks an average of 25,000 steps a day, can cycle 150 kilometers in a day, and has cycled around Lake Van five times.
Cemal Yıldırım, who quit smoking after 30 years due to health problems and underwent angiography four times in the Tatvan district of Bitlis, changed his life by taking up sports.
Yıldırım, a 53-year-old father of two, faced his own health problems in Diyarbakır, where he went in 2012 because of his mother's illness.
Yıldırım, who had difficulty climbing stairs and walking, decided to quit smoking, which he had started at a young age and had smoked for 30 years, on the advice of doctors.
Although he struggled in the first days, Yıldırım did not give up on his decision and freed himself from the addiction; he underwent angiography four times due to his heart condition.
Turning to sports to live healthily, Yıldırım began taking an interest in cycling, swimming, running, and mountaineering.
Yıldırım, who walks an average of 25,000 steps a day and can cycle 150 kilometers in a day at events he participates in, also made sports a part of his life 8 years ago as the provincial representative of the Turkish Cycling Federation.
In this way, Yıldırım got rid of his ailments and his quality of life improved, and he recommended that everyone quit smoking and start doing sports.
HE THREW HIS CIGARETTES IN THE TRASH AFTER THE DOCTOR'S WORDS
Yıldırım told an Anadolu Agency reporter that he went to a doctor because of the discomfort he experienced in Diyarbakır, where he had taken his mother due to her illness.
Yıldırım, noting that he was deeply shocked when the doctors who examined him said, "Your condition is worse than your mother's," spoke as follows:
"The doctor told me, 'If I had examined you before your mother, I would have hospitalized you first.' I was very upset and scared. He said the reason for this was smoking. Upon that, I threw my cigarettes and lighter in the trash. I felt demoralized, but quitting smoking is very easy. Then I came to Tatvan. I underwent angiography four times related to my condition. Smoking was again among the main causes. I got rid of smoking and devoted myself to sports. I started mountain hikes. Then I met the bicycle, the most meaningful sports instrument in my life. I turned to cycling."
HE TRAVELED AROUND LAKE VAN BY BICYCLE 5 TIMES
Yıldırım, describing that he began sports activities in the Lake Van basin and became the provincial representative of the Turkish Cycling Federation 8 years ago, said, "I pedaled around Lake Van 5 times by bicycle. I also walked around Lake Van once on 13 routes. I climbed Mount Süphan 3 times and the Esrük and Artos mountains once each. I did a crater hike in Nemrut Caldera National Park 3 times. I went by bicycle from Mount Nemrut in Tatvan to Mount Nemrut in Adıyaman twice. Most recently, last month, I cycled from Antalya to Çanakkale. With these activities, I feel better."
Noting that he strives for young people to participate in sports activities as well, Yıldırım expressed that he does everything he can to keep young people away from smoking, bad habits, alcohol, and technology and phone addiction.
Yıldırım, who said he walks an average of 25,000 steps a day, used the following expressions: "Later I started running 12 kilometers. As I succeeded, I embraced sports more. I can cycle 150 kilometers in a day. I enjoy cycling, walking, and swimming. If I hadn't quit smoking, I couldn't have achieved these. I feel very lucky that I quit smoking. I recommend this to everyone."