The BAFP Teen Kindness Board's second annual Be A Friend Walkathon To End Bullying, "walking towards a kinder world," to raise funds and awareness, RAISED $10,000.
On June 6, 2024, our 1.75 mile Walkathon took place on the campus of SUNY Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY. Satellite walks were organized nationwide!
The opening ceremony was led by Teen Kindness Board Chair and Media Coordinator, Daniel Simpson, and Teen Kindness Board Member and Kindness Club Coordinator, Kimmie Edge. Kimmie stepped in place last minute for Kylie Hogan, the TKB walkathon lead, who was "devastated" to wake up sick on event day... but Kylie's months-long efforts to organize the event shined on! We all had a blast and success at raising awareness and funds.
The ceremony was concluded by inducting our first three members into our LION PRIDE, an alumni group for our active Teen Kindness Board members when they “age on” from the board, no longer “teens.” Ethan Katz, Aidan Duver (posthumously), and Kimmie Edge received a lion trophy at the Walkathon in honor of the work they have done as students to end bullying and create a kinder, more inclusive world.
We could not have succeeded without the Participants, Sponsors, Volunteers and Donors that powered the walk. YOBOUNCE PARTY RENTALS donated, worked and walked - outfitting our event village with games, snacks, tents and sound equipment! WEGMAN'S donated all the water, bananas and granola bars! Enchanting Balloons of the Hudson Valley donated 8-foot balloon columns to welcome walkers! We were PROUD to display logos of our vital sponsors: Matthew Shepard Foundation, Pieces of Us, Rivertown General Contracting, TownSquare Media, Subaru Distributor's Corp., Bill Singleton's State Farm and Mortgage Apple Cakes.
The Walkathon is dedicated to our friend and Teen Board Chair, Aidan Duver, whose idea it was to hold the walkathon, and tragically passed away just the week before last year's event after a 22-month battle with cancer. A tribute area for our former TKB Chair and friend, Aidan Duver, designed by TKB member, Mika Wurf, offered pictures, a tribute WORD ART poster for signing, friendship bracelets and purple ribbons & tattoos.
We featured a Friend Mail writing tent, a "Be(ad) Yourself Station" - bead necklaces with colors designated for bullying-related topics - and an picture tribute to the, on average, 42 kids who die by suicide every week in the U.S.
To see more pictures and video of the stations, amazing volunteers and walkers, check out our 2nd Annual Walkathon To End Bullying RECAP VIDEO...
3 Teen Kindness Board members completed the "Walkathon To End Bullying" as a SATELLITE. Whether solo or with friends, we loved seeing the satellites introduce the BAFP logo, sponsors and mission in new locations raising funds and awareness around bullying. TKB Member, Ryan Lavin, held his satellite walk on the beach on vacation in Palm Coast, Florida. Brad Lancaster, held his satellite walk in Amarillo, Texas. EllaGrace Clinger walked solo in northwestern Florida.
Teen Board member KYLIE HOGAN, a Lehigh University student, stepped up for a second year to lead the event planning. With steady support from BAFP Staff & Teen Board, Kylie impressed us with her professional and resourceful planning.
Thank you News 12 Westchester for attending our event, interviewing our Upstanders, and airing a promotion segment...
THANK YOU, WALKATHON TEAM! Can't wait to do it again next year - a Teen Kindness Board annual Walkathon To End Bullying "walking towards a kinder world" and always to be dedicated to Aidan. 💜
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