AMARILLO, Texas — A Texas local community is rallying close to an 11-12 months-old boy who went viral for hunting for new good friends after he was bullied. Shayden Walker was celebrated by dozens of his neighbors at the anti-bullying “Glow Like Shayden” party Sunday at a park in Amarillo.
“We arranged this function to increase awareness against bullying and to be a voice for those that do not dare to stand up for on their own,” mentioned Kyle Tijerina, a neighbor who hosted the function. “We are making an attempt to market the bravery to stand up towards bullying by achieving out and chatting to people.”
The boy had long gone viral following his neighbor, Brennan Ray, shared stability digicam footage on TikTok, displaying Shayden stopping by his neighbor’s property on July 3 searching for other small children his age. In the movie, Shayden is observed speaking to his neighbor by way of a front doorway protection digicam.
“Um, I just desired to see if you understood any kids all around like 11 or 12, possibly,” the boy can be listened to declaring in the movie. “I will need some buddies, like definitely undesirable.”
Ray posted the movie to aid join Shayden to pals, garnering around 70 million sights as of this week. He and his wife, Angell Ray, also started a GoFundMe website page for Shayden.
“It is too much to handle but also awe-inspiring that Amarillo could occur alongside one another like this from all walks of everyday living from any person who has been bullied no matter whether they are abled or distinctive wants,” Shayden’s mom, Krishna Patterson, reported. “Shayden normally claims bullying is a dim and lonely path for the bully or the one particular getting bullied. There are people today that you can attain out to due to the fact you are of course in suffering.”
‘He is a wonderful soul’:Neighbor helps boy who knocked on his doorway wanting for good friends
Viral video places a spotlight on bullying
Tijerina mentioned the video highlighted a shared encounter of loneliness for numerous men and women.
“This strike house for a whole lot of people that noticed or experienced bullying that did not dare to stand up and did not know how to deal with the issue,” Tijerina reported. “It demonstrates that you have aid no make a difference who you are. We want to display that there are individuals to converse to. We require to build superior camaraderie with our local community to overcome bullying.”
Shayden attended the event and urged men and women who are remaining bullied or are bullying many others to arrive at out for enable.
Shayden’s stepfather, Dustin Patterson, and Krishna Patterson, ended up initially overcome by the variety of men and women who had reached out to Shayden. They “had no notion” about the video or the GoFundMe until eventually their more mature son requested if they realized Shayden was famed.
“The a person thing that I seen about all people that has achieved out is that almost all people has known another person that is a sufferer of bullying or was a target of bullying by themselves,” Patterson mentioned. “I consider that seeing a kid that was keen to go out and glance for mates regardless of being aware of he has been bullied in the earlier is continue to ready to take that chance, I imagine, just hit tough for everybody that has absent by means of that.”
GoFundMe will assistance boy travel, get new dresses
Ray explained he was touched by Shayden coming to his door, and currently being open about hunting for close friends and his bullying. He failed to anticipate the movie to go viral and mentioned persons suggested he set up the GoFundMe for Shayden.
“Shayden himself touched me in the video clip with his infectious smile. He displays to every person in the video clip that he was genuinely achieving out for support in the movie so we felt compelled to get to out to move up for the kid,” Ray mentioned. “I believe this video clip touched the earth. If you were human, you could convey to that Shayden was asking for enable.”
The web page raised over $37,000 to go toward anything Shayden wished or desired, such as clothing and amusement park tickets.
Dustin Patterson stated 50 % of the revenue raised will be donated to other triggers and charities, with some place towards Shayden’s long term. The funds will also go towards a holiday vacation for Shayden, because the 11-calendar year-outdated hasn’t been on a single given that he was a toddler.
In accordance to Krishna Patterson, Shayden has gained a range of diagnoses, including autism, oppositional defiant ailment, bipolar ailment, focus deficit hyperactivity disorder and many others.
She earlier told United states of america Currently that Shayden had a tricky time protecting friendships and experienced been bullied for some time. So when she first listened to of the online video, she reacted with panic, anger and fear.
Krishna Patterson reported she needed it shut down but right after chatting with others, she saw it as a good factor for Shayden.
“I was panicked since I believed my son is going to be manufactured a laughingstock,” Krishna Patterson reported. “Shayden has now experienced so quite a few challenges with college, with being bullied and hopeless. Then when I fulfilled with these people, Angel and Brennen, who began the GoFundMe and shared the video, they are basically strolling angels.”
Contributing: Saleen Martin, United states Currently
