A Nelson family wants the community to join them in a fight against bullying as they help create the world’s largest anti-bullying sign.
Shauntelle Carbery and her two sons Jacob, 16, and Joshua, 11, are volunteers for an organization called Legacy X. Their friend Justin Spencer, from Las Vegas’ famed Recycled Percussion and the Legacy X team, is leading the charge to build a sign, a large red X, in the middle of the Nevada desert. It’s a huge statement against something that’s become a huge problem, says Carbery.
“Bullying unfortunately is turning into an epidemic,” she says. “It not only happens in schools, bullying affects everyone and it so important to take action, offer support to each other and show we will not tolerate this anymore.”
Society has woken up to the issue of bullying and later this month marks the seventh annual Anti-Bulling or Pink Shirt Day. On this day, people wear pink to symbolize a stand against bullying. Schools, businesses and other work places participate some holding abolish bullying rallies on that day.
Carbery would love to see people in Nelson come on board with this further fight as her family stands against bullying. Their family has a history of volunteerism and fundraising. When Jacob was 9-years-old he appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show for raising over $21,000 for the SPCA.
“I’ve taught my kids that it’s very important to give back,” says Carbery.
What Spencer is doing with his fame resonates with the Carberys. He created Legacy X with the hopes of inspiring communities to protect each other and find purpose.
“Everyone has experienced some kind of bullying in their life and it has shaped or formed who they are moving forward,” he says in the video bullying in the desert. “I thought what if we could do something so big, so inspirational and so moving that the entire country, maybe even world couldn’t help notice.”
Spencer hopes each leg of the red X will be as big as a football field consisting of almost personal anti-bullying messages, taken from people all over the world.
“This project is so big we invite anyone from anywhere to participate in this incredible movement,” says Spencer via his Twitter feed. “This will make a global impact, will be filmed and shared across the wavelengths all over the world.”
To participate, hand write, colour or computer generate a personal message on a red 8.5 by 11 piece of paper with your first name and location. The X will be built the last week of March to be unveiled March 22.
The project will be filmed, from the ground and by air, with students standing on the red papers saying some of their heartfelt messages. It is hoped that Guinness World Records will call it a world record setting event.
Carbery wants to make participation as easy as possible and will help out with providing red paper and will accept emailed messages that she will print out on people’s behalf.
“We can arrange to pick up the letters so we can send them all down to Las Vegas in one big box,” she says. “We want Canada, especially Nelson, to be well represented in this worthy cause.”
Carbery says this project is dear to her as both her sons have experienced bullying with her youngest currently taking a stand as he struggles with it.
“I want to show him people can make a difference,” she says. “And my boys are more than happy to help out with this.”
For more information on how to participate, contact Carbery by email at joshjake@live.ca. The messages can also be emailed directly to Spencer in Las Vegas at bullyx@legacyx.com