Bishop Dunne students joined Mothers Opposing Bullying at their annual walk including: (back row) Campus Minister Nick Brandt, Aylin Hernandez, David Briseño, Julia Santos, Victoria Goldsmith, David Lane; (front row): Keaton Van Beveren, Annemarie Carranza, Calli Lynch, Madolyn Childs, Abbey Patrick, Krystal Garcia, Yasmine Jackson, LeBria Ware.
Bishop Dunne Students Join Walk Against Bullying March 28th
Fifteen Bishop Dunne Catholic School representatives joined Mothers Opposing Bullying (M.O.B.) for Walk-A-Thon 2015 on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the beautiful Anderson Booner Park off Park Central and 635 in north Dallas. Walkers helped M.O.B. raise funds to support its establishment of a National Bullying Hotline while walking in the sunshine.
Walkers came from all corners of Dallas to support the foundation which is launching a national hotline for children who suffer from bullying. Along with youth from all over the city, eleven students and four adult chaperones from Bishop Dunne enjoyed their morning walking while standing up against bullying.
Belinda Ramsey, former Miss Texas United America 2006, is the founder of the Dallas-based non-profit, which unites mothers to work together against bullying. This is the second consecutive year Bishop Dunne has supported the walk.
Ellsworth Hercules, spokesman for the foundation, said that research shows that each day over 800,000 students are bullied nation-wide, and over 160,000 skip school to avoid the threat.
Keaton Van Beveren, moderator of the Bishop Dunne Service Club said, “It was a BEAUTIFUL day and while we were given lots of options, we chose the 10k, so we walked the second furthest!” Walkers could choose from different distances including 1-, 2-, 5-, 10- and 14-kilometer divisions in walking and running.
Sophomore Julia Santos said she has “never walked that far” but thought it sounded like a good event to support. “There’s no bullying here, but I wanted to serve others.” She came to Bishop Dunne from Mount Saint Michaels and even though Bishop Dunne is a bigger school, Julia said she has always felt right at home.
7th grader Calli Lynch came to Bishop Dunne from the Harmony School on Camp Wisdom Road and said, “I love it here! I’ve never felt bullied, but I wanted to help others.” A softball player, she attends Rock Harvest Calvary Baptist Church in Cedar Hill and said the walk was easy for her.
Junior David Lane thought the walk would be fun. “Ms. Van Beveren came to my Advisory and talked about the walk, and I figured it sounded like fun so I’d do it.” David came to Bishop Dunne from Holy Trinity Catholic School near downtown, and said the 10k distance was easy for him, since he plays soccer. Has he ever felt bullied at Bishop Dunne? “No way,” he said, “No fear here.” In fact, the biggest man on campus is in his Yearbook Class, Darrion Daniels. “He’s cool – very funny,” said David of his giant classmate, headed to Oklahoma State University this fall on a football scholarship. Would David walk in the anti-bullying event again next year? “Sure! I’d be happy to. It was fun.”
For more information see: www.mothersopposingbullying.org and www.bdhs.org.