Members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be in northern Saskatchewan today talking to local students about anti-bullying.
Fullback Neal Hughes and offensive lineman Dan Clark began their journey through the north on Wednesday with stops in Southend and Pelican Narrows.
On Thursday, the two Riders will travel to Stony Rapids, Black Lake and Beauval sharing their anti-bullying message.
Hughes and Clark will be presenting a program from the Canadian Red Cross called “Beyond the Hurt”, which helps prevent bullying and harassment in schools.
“Beyond the Hurt” is a one-to-two-hour program that explores all aspects of bullying and peer harassment.
Hughes says this is an important message to share because bullying happens everywhere.
“Bullying happens to all different types of people and cultures and it is always going to be there, so we have to do our best to get rid of it as much as we can,” said Hughes. “We need to educate these students and let them know they are the ones who can stop bullying, they are the ones who can take a stand against it.”
Clark says it is important for him and Hughes to share in the program because they both have experiences with bullying.
“From Grade 4 to Grade 8, I was bullied pretty bad and that’s put me on to the Red Cross and to be able to do this program with Neal,” said Clark. “It’s my chance to give back and to help the kids know that we do have a message that we have been in their shoes and know how it feels.”
Hughes has a similar story.
“I’ve experienced many situations in my life where I’ve been bullied, but I have also been on the other side where I have said and done some things that I shouldn’t have,” said Hughes. “I think it is important for the youth to know that just because we are telling them they shouldn’t bully, Dan and I have been through it and we know what it is like on both sides of that spectrum.”
The two Riders have spent time recently in southern Saskatchewan sharing the same program.
The “Beyond the Hurt” program was able to come to northern Saskatchewan because of a partnership between the Saskatchewan Roughriders, The Canadian Red Cross and Cameco.