All over the world I am getting the pledges from athletes and parents, both cheer and non cheer about what they are going to do to take action and stand up to bullying. I can't tell you how humbling it is. From one grain of thought that I had when I started this campaign...give your pledge and I'll give you a bow, people started sending pledges. I have had hundreds of pledges roll into my inbox. People are making it happen.
Here's just a sample of pledges that have come in my inbox:
I pledge to speak up, raise awareness, always give a listening ear and never give up on making a difference and putting an end to bullying --Caelan Dean
My pledge is to help others stand up to people who are bullying them. ANNOYMOUS
I pledge to speak up when i see bullying and harassment i will notice and take action i can make a difference. I will try to become friends with the people that are getting bullied and don't have anyone to help them or talk to. I will be supportive of them and also help them make many more additional friends. -- Lauren Fram
You along with some of the cheer now companies inspired me to take action to stop bullying, along with being an All star cheerleader, I Also cheer for my high school and I Told my teammates about the actions you and many others in the cheer world are taking. So we got together and made a bunch of stop bullying signs and hung them around our school, we also try our best to promote positive friendly atmospheres in or school to prevent anger and bullying, so thank you for inspiring me to take the pledge and share out with my teammates to. --Paedyn Bryce
I would stop bullying by helping other cheerleaders when they're bullied because of their sport or sexual orientation and spread the word that we keep losing cheerleaders and its serious. --Lauren Meyers
Bullying is so close to her (Heather's) heart, she can not handle anyone being hurt in her school or at her gym that she cheers at. She will do what ever it takes to stop them. Now she has so many friends because she became friends with those that were being bullied. --Deborah Stasiak (on behalf of daughter Heather)
I pledge to be a better friend to those who are being bullied-ANNOYMOUS
I plan on starting a campaign at my school to have our teachers talk to other kids about bullying. We don't have a program at our school. --ANNOYMOUS
Here is my pledge--I pledge to get my friends together and keep bullies from picking on the other kids. We are going to make a bully circle and get teachers to help us stop the bullies. --ANNOYMOUS (sent by a 2nd grade student)
As you can see, I am soooo proud of what has been accomplished and how people are starting the year off by taking a stand against bullying. If we continue to keep this subject in the forefront, bullying will be a subject that I hope my generations children will never have to endure.
Texas sized hugs,
Abby