Bullied Australian boy to donate $475,000 to charity
Quaden Bayles’ video (L) was watched millions of times and prompted U.S. comedian Brad Williams (R) to start a GoFundMe page. Image: Facebook/Yarraka Bayles, AFP/Erik Voake/Getty Images North America
An Australian boy with dwarfism whose distress from bullying became a viral video will donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity rather than spend it on a trip to Disneyland.
The clip of nine-year-old Quaden Bayles showed him crying and repeatedly saying he wanted to die after being bullied at school, sparking an outpouring of support from around the world.
The video was watched millions of times and prompted United States comedian Brad Williams to start a GoFundMe page that eventually raised almost U.S. $475,000 (P24 million).
Although the funds were meant to send Bayles and his mom to Disneyland, his aunt told Australia’s NITV News that the money would be used for charities instead.
“What kid wouldn’t want to go to Disneyland, especially if you have lived Quaden’s life. To escape to anywhere that is fun that doesn’t remind him of his day to day challenges,” she was quoted as saying.
“But my sister said ‘you know what, let’s get back to the real issue’. This little fella has been bullied. How many suicides, black or white, in our society have happened due to bullying.”
“We want the money to go to community organizations that really need it. They know what the money should be spent on. So as much as we want to go to Disneyland, I think our community would far off benefit from that.”
Australian actor Hugh Jackman and NBA player Enes Kanter were among the hundreds of thousands posting support for Bayles. CL/NVG
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If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). Their crisis hotlines are available at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), 0917-899-USAP (8727), 0966-351-4518, and 0908-639-2672. For more information, visit their website: (https://doh.gov.ph/NCMH-Crisis-Hotline)
Alternatively, you can contact Hopeline PH at the following numbers: 0917-5584673, 0918-8734673, 88044673. Additional resources are available at ngf-mindstrong.org, or connect with them on Facebook at Hopeline PH.
