www.gorat.com
Terrance the Rat encourages 6-11 year olds across the state to "Reject All Tobacco" and teach up to parents and older siblings. Public awareness efforts and a RAT branded television campaign have established Terrance as a fixture among the state’s elementary school students. Each RAT TV spot closes with a friendly reminder by Terrance — "You better tell somebody!" — to encourage the youths’ support of the campaign message.
The RAT (Reject All Tobacco) school program takes Terrance’s message into the classroom. To further strengthen this comprehensive program, The Partnership brings it to life with entertaining performance troupes that travel to elementary schools across the state. These traveling RAT Packs — groups of singing, dancing Mississippi youths (aged 10-16) and the show-stopping Terrance — reinforce learning-based activities with the use of original tobacco-free songs and interactive "Q & As" with the audience. The RAT Pack performers award "Reject All Tobacco" prizes to the audience for their participation in the show.
All activities, advertisements and performances drive youth to visit the RAT web site. The site provides the performance schedule, information about the troupe members and Terrance’s stand against tobacco. Visitors to the site can learn the words to original songs such as "No Secondhand Man’" and "Live Strong, Be Stronger" from the RAT Pack show. Educators and parents can use the site to order support materials and learn of upcoming teacher training activities across the state.
The entire RAT program is supported by a counter-marketing campaign that reinforces the facts about tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Each spot closes with a friendly reminder from Terrance - "You Better Tell tell Somebody” about the health risks associated with tobacco use.
For more information about RAT, visit www.gorat.com.
