Georgia Teen Takes Action To Spread Bully Awareness

Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- In a time when the nationwide bullying epidemic is at its worse, many parents, teachers and authoritative figures are turning their heads and ignoring the problem rather than facing it head on and dealing with the growing issue.

For 15-year-old Georgian high school student Kirsten Hoge, running away and hoping the problem dissolves on its own was not an option.  Kirsten is currently a ninth grader and football cheerleader at Dawson County High School and is on the Tiger Elite Competition Travel Squad for cheering.  An honor student, Kirsten is currently signed with the renowned Jana VanDyk Agency for modeling and acting.  Although a full time student, athlete and aspiring actress/model, she balances her extracurricular time with her top priority—being an advocate for ‘anti-bullying’.  

Prior to high school, Kirsten had dealt with her share of being bullied and singled out, and has emerged from a bullied victim to an advocate of bully awareness, anxious to share her story and help others who continue to face bullying daily.  

Recently she has taken her cause viral, setting up the Rise and Shine Bullying Organization on Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rise-and-Shine-Bullying-Or....

“My goal is for our organization to grow and branch out to different states,” said Kirsten Hoge.  “We want to coordinate with schools to set up groups and programs for bullied kids so they can meet in a safe environment.”

Kirsten continued, “I want to create an outlet so that any bullied kids can contact us, and we can go to their school and talk to the principal, get them counseling, and take whatever action is necessary to resolve the issue.”

Kirsten is adamant about working towards a solution immediately to combat the deadly epidemic plaguing our society.

This week there were bullied-involved shootings, where three kids lost their lives.  Parents, teachers, authoritative figures and high profile people need to step up and take action against bullying.

Recently former IBA World Cruiserweight Boxing Champion Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn partnered with Fighters United Against Bullying to help promote awareness.

Gunn has announced that he will be dedicating his upcoming IBA Heavyweight Championship of the World fight to bullied victims worldwide.  Recognizing the continued efforts by Kirsten, Bobby Gunn has reached out and partnered with the teen to combine efforts in getting the word out.

“Bullying is no longer about a bigger kid picking on a smaller, weaker kid in the schoolyard,” said Gunn.  “Through the explosion of social media, bullies can now target their victims and abuse them mentally and emotionally.  These bullying issues need to be dealt with immediately before they spiral out of control, and can lead to depression, hate and in the worst case scenario, murder and suicide.  If we all make an effort to combat this problem, together we can make a difference.  It’s time to start working together to find a solution rather than turning our shoulder the other way and hope the issue goes away on its own.”

Kirsten Hoge will be speaking out about the bullying epidemic at Gunn’s title fight in Southhaven, Mississippi on April 7.

To kids who are victims of bullying, Kirsten speaks out, “This too shall pass.  It will get better; it got better for me and it gets better for everyone.  You have to think of the life you have ahead of you.  And you’re going to get out of school, and none of the people who are bullying you are going to matter.  Don’t give up on yourself.”

In reaction to Kirsten Hoge’s perseverance and determination to have her voice heard, Gunn responded, “It is amazing how Kirsten has stepped up and rose above the adversity to become empowered to spread bully awareness.  She is a true inspiration and I believe with all my heart that she will make a difference and encourage others to get involved.  If we could get celebrity bullying advocates like Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga on board, it would sky rocket our progress.”

The time is now for people to step up and take action against bullying, before we continue to wake to more headlines of bully-related deaths.

Visit Kirsten’s cause on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rise-and-Shine-Bullying-Organization/176871162395484.

For media inquiries contact Chris Cella at Christopher.cella@hotmail.com.