Community Corner
11-Year-Old Organizes 5K to Fight Bullying
PRO Martial Arts helps lead effort to raise awareness of the toll bullying can take.
(Originally published Oct. 6, 2016) CANTON, MI — A Pioneer Middle School sixth-grader wants to do his part to stop bullying. So he rounded up some friends at PRO Martial Arts of Canton, where he takes karate classes, and organized a fundraiser to help fight the national problem.
It all started when a Canton police officer, Patty Esselink, the police department's community relations officer, visited PRO Martial Arts to talk with youngsters Monday about bullying. Devon Bhatt, 11, told The Canton Observer, "At school I saw people being bullied and it made me think that nobody should be bullied and everybody should get along." Brien Bell, PRO Martial Arts owner, said the message was simple: "Don't be a bully and don't be bullied," he said.
The combined efforts resulted in a 5K walk, "Bullying Hurts," scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in Heritage Park.
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» For more on this story, go to The Canton Observer.
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