Rose the Firefighter gives children and adults something to look out for during lockdown walks – Stuff.co.nz

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Helen Rose has been placing her Rose the Firefighter cartoon all over Inglewood to give children something to look out for during lockdown walks.

They seek her here, they seek her there, they seek Firefighter Rose everywhere.

Taranaki woman Helen Rose came up with the cartoon firefighter shortly after level 4 began, and has been placing it around her home town of Inglewood to give people, primarily children, something to spot when out for their daily lockdown exercise.

Danny Chapman/Stuff

Carter Chapman finds Firefighter Rose while out with his family.

Its a little treasure hunt just to encourage people to go out and have a walk, said Helen, a mother of three.

I go all around Inglewood with her. Shes been taken all over the place.

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Firefighter Rose has been parked on benches, placed among tree branches and been displayed on the gates of the town hall.

She went to the train station one day.

John Vernon Tauke Wheatley/Stuff

Ella Wheatley likes to look for Firefighter Rose.

But its not just youngsters who have been photographing themselves next to Firefighter Rose and uploading the pictures to Inglewoods Facebook page. Adults have been joining in the hunt as well.

They include Erica Perry, who is one of 40 people in the world with Miller Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes facial and limb abnormalities.

Erica Perry/Stuff

Erica Perry said looking for Firefighter Rose had been a big help in motivating her to walk longer distances and to walk more often.

Along with a photo, Perry posted that taking part in the search was helping her to walk longer distances and to walk more often.

Since running my half-marathon a few years ago, my mind and body have struggled to keep up the fitness. Thanks to this, I am out walking the streets much more often.

Helen, who moved to Taranaki from England with husband Chris and children Isobel, 10, Scarlett, 8, and Toby, 5, has been a volunteer firefighter for the past three years, which gave her the idea for the cartoon.

Leslie Ireland/Stuff

Leslie Ireland also joined in the hunt.

Firefighter Rose did turn out looking a bit like me, said Helen. It was not intentional. It just sort of happened.

Alice Smith/Stuff

Sophia, left, and Tilly Smith found Firefighter Rose.

The former kitchen designer, who is now moving into a childcare career, said Firefighter Rose was keeping her busy.

I had a message today asking if I had moved her yet.

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Rose the Firefighter gives children and adults something to look out for during lockdown walks - Stuff.co.nz