By Rosalyn Roden

A YOUNG mum has spoken of her heartache after her partner died when she was pregnant.

Victoria Woodall, from Radcliffe, was expecting boyfriend Stuart Moxon’s baby when she was told he had died “unexpectedly” in his sleep.

Mr Moxon, described by family as “much-loved” and a “great friend to many”, died aged 35, due to a respiratory problem.

Mr Moxon, nicknamed Moxon, and Victoria were just about to move into their new home together, and Victoria was only a few weeks pregnant with their daughter.

Victoria, aged 30, has now hailed the stop smoking service which gave her hope in the face of her partner’s death. She said: “I used smoking as my way to cope. When I found out I was pregnant I was barely smoking but when I found out Moxon had passed away I smoked more. Smoking seemed the only way for me to deal with it.”

The mum-of-two was put in touch with a smoking advisor who gave her one-to-one support throughout her pregnancy.

Victoria said: “I found out we were having a girl before Moxon’s funeral. I spent the majority of my pregnancy on my own but having the baby gave me a part of him.

“It has been incredibly hard. I miss him every day but now I have hope again because of our daughter.”

Sharon Hall from Bury Lifestyle Service met with Victoria on a fortnightly basis until, in March, she was declared smoke free.

Victoria said: “I have been an on-off smoker all my life. I’ve tried to stop quite a few times but I would always start again.

“Having Sharon there has helped me so much. Since having my baby, I haven’t smoked, which has given her the best start in life.”

Victoria managed to remain smoke-free throughout her second and third trimester and now has a healthy 10-week-old baby girl Esmae Moxon.

Other smokers who are hoping to quit are urged to take part in Stoptober as it returns for 2017.

Smoking causes around 79,000 preventable deaths per year in England, and remains remains the biggest cause of accidental fire deaths in the UK, and in Greater Manchester, where 46 per cent of accidental deaths are caused by smoking-related materials.

Bury Lifestyle Service is offering additional support to coincide with the national campaign which continues throughout October.

The service is providing free and confidential one-to-one support to those living, working, or studying in Bury.

Bury Cllr Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Giving up smoking is the single best thing that a person can do to improve their health.

“Those who use stop smoking aids and get face-to-face support from their local stop smoking service are up to four times more likely to quit successfully.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have also pledged their support with a focus on keeping people safe from fire and improving health.

As part of their move to back Public Health England’s Stoptober campaign, staff and volunteers at GMFRS are taking part in training to help smokers quit.

For more information visit https://campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/6-stoptober/overview.