News Flash: Steparoo spotted!

Here at Smokefree North West, the sun is shining and Spring is upon us - but we all remain a little sad because of the continued absence of our fine furry friend, Steparoo.


The plot has thickened since our resident kangaroo mascot and her little 'Roo first went awol last week.

Reports have flooded in of sightings of her and little Roo all across the North West - from Bury Market to Wigan, and the centre of Liverpool to Huyton Village shopping centre. All of which had us perplexed - especially upon learning she had been brandishing flowers to lots of unsuspecting Mums. We can't help but wonder - what is she up to?

Whilst we're relieved she's obviously ok and we think that it might have something to do with her endeavours to gently guide and help mums to make an informed choice to Take 7 Steps Out and protect their children from secondhand smoke, we are still worried by her absence.

So if you're reading this Steparoo, we have a stash of Skippy peanut butter waiting for you - just please come home soon!

The Smokefree North West team
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MISSING: Our beloved Steparoo!!



A very happy Steparoo last summer

 "Maybe she's gone to Tesco to replenish her Skippy peanut butter?" offers Andy.

We sadly shake our heads sceptically - Steparoo is such a conscientious girl she'd never leave us like this, with no ditty to let us know her whereabouts. Oh no.

Our much loved fine furry hop-stepping friend is missing, and the only signs of her are some rather large kangaroo footprints outside of shopping centres and train stations all across the North West (or so we're told).  Have you seen these giant footprints anywhere near you? Please let us know if you have!

We miss her and her little joey sorely here at the Smokefree North West offices. Every time we hear some clodhopping along the corridor (try as she might, Steparoo's not, ahem, particularly delicate on her sizable feet) we rush from our desks only to find it's just the builders who are in the building at the moment sprucing it up. It's probably the most eager to prise ourselves away from our desks and our tenacious hard work we've ever been.

We last saw her yesterday for a brew - and because it was such a super busy day we didn't notice she'd gone till her usual exclamations of "BINGO!" (as she thinks of another winning idea to help mums and dads take Take 7 Steps Out from their homes to protect their little 'uns from secondhand smoke) weren't ringing around the office scaring the wits out of us. 

We can only hope that in her excitement about the coming spring and all this lovely sunshine we've been having that she's earnestly taken herself off to champion taking Take 7 Steps Out - as it's so much easier when the weather's bright and beautiful. 

So if you see her, or have any clues as to where she might be - she's roughly 2m tall, very cuddly with a golden syrup-brown coloured fur, turquoise blue Seven Steps Out tee shirt, and of course very, very big feet - please let us know. And if you've pinched her, please give her back!

Sophie at Smokefree North West

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Steparoo and National Youth Work week

It was great being asked to help celebrate National Youth Work week in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. Me and Lil’ Roo made an appearance at the Forum 28 where over 200 young people came together to celebrate the things that they do in their communities – all of these young people give generously of their time to take part in various activities and promote healthy living.

Which is where I come in, young people deliver the no smoking message through peer education workshops and so I went along to give some extra help in promoting the 7 Steps out. The people of Barrow are a friendly lot and Lil’ Roo and I got lots of hugs from the little folk (and some not so little) of Barrow.

So, well done young people for working so hard to let people know about the 7 Steps out and if you ever want me to come again then I’ll hop over and give you a hand.


Lots of love

Steparoo and Lil’ Roo.

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Wonderful Warrington

The guys from Smokefree North West asked me and Lil’ Roo along to their roadshow one last time to help the spread the word to Take 7 Steps Out. The roadshow visited every county across the NW and along the way we met some really bonza people!

Today we were at Golden Square Shopping Centre in Warrington, what a fantastic turn out!

Warrington Borough Councillor Mike Biggin and some of the helpful people from NHS Warrington’s Stop Smoking Service came by to lend a hand. Sheila and Linda from Warrington Smokefree Families also stopped by to help out and tell people all about their new scheme. They are asking people to pledge to make their homes smokefree and in return not only will people protect their family but also receive a free information pack- sounds rad!

For help and support in making a home smokefree make sure to check out the support section area on http://www.take7stepsout.co.uk/

I was so excited when Rugby League Challenge Cup winner Wolfie from Warrington wolves stopped by to support the campaign. Everyone wanted their photos taken with us- we were the Kylie and Jason of Warrington- I felt like a superstar!
My favourite part of the day though had to be when glamorous gran Joy, stopped by for a chat. Joy hadn’t heard about Take 7 Steps Out until her grandkids Leigha and Jake who had seen the advert asked their gran to start smoking outside. Joy now Takes 7 Steps Out before she lights up and even has a chair 7 steps away from the back door, what a beaut idea!

Wow what an end to a bonzer summer, we’ve met so many new friends along the way, been to heaps of cool places and informed tonnes of blokes and sheilas in the North West about the dangers secondhand smoke has on children.

Remember folks- if you do smoke, protect the little ones and Take 7 Steps Out!

StepaRoo & Little Roo x

Kirby Market, Knowsley

Me and Lil’Roo hopped over to Knowsley for the penultimate day of our road show. It was an exciting day and we met lots of great new friends.

Louisa and Jacki from Knowsley Health and Wellbeing team joined the Smokefree North West gang today to help spread the ‘Take 7 Steps Out’ message. It was great fun and they chatted to loads of folk about the dangers of smoking in the home. They introduced us to Gill and James from ‘Roy Castle Fag Ends’ a local group, set up on a drop in basis for people to nip in and receive information and support about smoking. They have information days held all across the NW so people don’t have to travel too far. It couldn’t be easier!

We met a great Sheila called Linda today who takes 7 Steps out for her grandkids, she said: “It’s not that much of a hassle to nip outside, I don’t know why more people don’t do it” Well done Linda that’s the spirit!

The local fire service also came down to show their support, offering a free fire risk assessment to help keep peoples homes safer.

A little fella called Benjamin was brill on the musical steps today, he kept us all entertained with some tunes. His mum Dawn takes 7 Steps out because she is worried about the kids inhaling secondhand smoke. She was shocked when she could actually smell cigarette smoke on the kids. “My sister smokes too, but I won’t let the kids in the car with her if she has been smoking there” – That’s great Dawn keep up the good work.

I can’t wait to tell all my pals down-under about all the people we’ve met. I can’t believe it’s the last day tomorrow in Warrington. Hope to see you there.

Love Steparoo and Lil’Roo

x

A great day in Harpurhey

Chemical Soup show all the nasty chemicals found in cigarettes - ewwww!

Gday guys me and Lil’Roo visited Harpurhey today. We had loads of fun shopping in the market - you can buy almost anything there!

We had Abbie, Ali, Jenny, Lana, Mark and Jenny from the local Manchester PCT with us today to help out. Our beaut new friends were on hand with advice and information about local stop smoking services that are available in the area. They also brought down a display called chemical soup to show us exactly what nasty chemicals are in cigarettes – Ergh!!

We met some bonza people today like Danielle who started smoking outside because she hated the smell in the house and was worried her ceilings would turn yellow! Now her home is smoke free for her little girl Kaya and her boyfriend who hates smoking.

We also met Leanne always smokes outside in the garden because she is worried that her kids Ria and Monet will inhale secondhand smoke, she said: “Ria has asthma so I would never smoke around her.” That’s the spirit Leanne. Well done!

Little Jamie was out with his mum today, he took a balloon for his sister and a Take 7 Steps Out pack for his Gran who is trying to cut down with the help from Manchester PCT. Keep going Gran you can do it!

It’s been great fun today can’t wait to see who we meet in Knowsley.

Love Steparoo and Lil’Roo

StepaRoo loved Crewe

Katie and Leon

Me and Lil’Roo hopped over to Crewe today, with the Take 7 Steps Road show. We had a blast chatting to people and gave out loads of balloons and take 7 Steps packs to our new pals.


Rachael Nicholls the Public Health Project Worker from Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT nipped down today to offer help and support to people wanting information about smoking. Thanks for pitching in today Rach you are a riot.

We met Leon aged 4 who made playing the musical steps look easy and cool. His mum Katie already takes 7 Steps outside to keep her home smoke free – a big StepaRoo high five to you Sheila!

Amber was out shopping with her mum Elaine today but still had time for a hug and to pose for a pic for our blog.

Abigail’s mum Kirsty only smokes in the garden to keep second smoke away from Abi. Kirsty said “It also doesn’t make the house smell, I always make sure my friends that come around smoke outside too, and when Abi stops at her Grandmas no one smokes inside either.” Kirsty is doing really well cutting down with the help of patches from her local PCT- keep up the good work!

We met Lucy who was helping her mum to do some shopping before school in the arvo. She took a 'Take 7 Steps Out' information pack for her Grandma who sometimes smokes in the kitchen – thanks for spreading the message Luce!

We’ve had another bonza day meeting people, next stop Harpurhey!!

Love Steparoo nad Lil’ Roo

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