David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied (for wearing a pink shirt) They took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some others headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.
While bullying affects so many people physically, emotionally and mentally, we know there are many students, parents, schools and community members that want to know what they can do to help. Every contribution, whether it’s joining us in wearing pink on the last Wednesday of February to show you’re taking a stand, or making an effort to practice kindness and acceptance, or even giving a donation or fundraising for programs that make a difference and can change a life.
As the Pink Shirt Day movement grows each year, we not only see more and more people practicing kindness – both online and off – we are pleased to use the funds raised through official merchandise sales and donations to help hundreds of kids affected by bullying. Since 2008, net proceeds of over $2.55 million have been distributed to support youth anti-bullying programs in British Columbia and throughout Western Canada. In 2020 alone, we were able to support programs that impacted more than 59,000 youth and children.
Take a stand against bullying and be an advocate for kindness and inclusivity by wearing our Pink Shirt Day merchandise. Official Pink Shirt Day merchandise will be available to purchase online until the end of March; we encourage you wear these tees to help spread awareness for our cause not only throughout February, but for the remainder of the year. Net-proceeds from sales go directly to helping children in British Columbia and Western Canada build healthy self-esteem with themselves and their peers.
pinkshirtday.ca
