Bullying is a problem all over the world. Whether being bullied at school, work, home or online Pink Shirt Day was inspired to raise awareness of the issues that bullying causes as well as to raise funds to support programs that foster children’s self-esteem.
Pink Shirt Day was inspired by an act of kindness in a high school in Cambridge Nova Scotia. In 2007, grade 12 students David Shepherd and Travis Price and a few other friends saw that a grade 9 student was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on his first day of school. They had seen bullying around the school far too often and decided they needed to do something because it was not OK.
They decided to go to the local discount store and purchased 50 pink tank tops. They sent out messages to friends and the next day handed out the pink tops for students to wear. As they stood in the foyer handing out the pink shirts, the bullied boy walked in and his face spoke volumes. It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. By the end of the week, most students were wearing pink shirts to show support for the grade 9 student that was bullied. The bullying stopped….
After David and Travis’ act of kindness, CKNW was inspired to help other youths affected by bullying. Staff members started wearing pink shirts and collecting funds to support Boys and Girls Clubs. Since then, The CKNW Kids’ Fund partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs and 980 CKNW have gained worldwide support and participation on Pink Shirt Day and last year over 180 countries had their own fundraisers in support of anti-bullying.
Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February every year and their mission is to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives. This year’s theme is “Lift each other up”. In our diverse world, we need to lift each other up so we can embrace our unique cultures, identities and selves in open and direct ways.
Tomorrow, let’s wear our pink shirts proudly in support of anti-bullying.
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