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La. (KNOE) -While some local students are eagerly counting down the days until the first school bell rings, others are approaching the new school year with a sense of dread due to rising bullying and a lack of basic re
Today, one local business stepped up to help families tackle both of those heavy burdens
The BoneKrusher Boxing Program hosted its “TKO Bullying” supply giveaway, serving more than 100 local families. The event was packed with free school supplies, fresh haircuts, health screenings, sports activities and barbecue
Gym owner Sammie Crawford said the goal was to deliver a definitive “knockout blow” to back-to-school anxiety by focusing on the child’s entire well-being
“I wanted to do something traditionally different from just giving backpacks away,” Crawford said. “I wanted to try to focus on the emotional part of students getting ready to go back to school.”
For 13-year-old volunteer Sophia Madison, the fight against bullying is deeply personal. Madison spent years dealing with bullies, experiencing firsthand the isolating, emotional toll it takes on a student
“I didn’t feel like nobody really cared,” Madison recalled
But instead of giving up, Madison decided she was done letting the bullies dictate her life
“Eventually, I was just like, I wasn’t dealing with this anymore,” Madison said
She found her strength inside the doors of BoneKrusher Gym. Crawford explained that training in the ring is about building a proactive mindset that helps kids handle whatever life throws at them
“When you’re in the ring and you’re training, you’re able to be prepared for, you know, whatever that punch may be to be able to give the knockout to end the fight,” Crawford said. “So with students, training, education, helps them be prepared so when they see stuff like that, they can knock it out. That’s where the TKO comes in.”
Despite training in a boxing program, Madison is quick to point out that physical retaliation is never the goal
“Fighting should really be a last resort because it’s not the best solution,” Madison said
Rather than teaching kids to punch back, the program heavily emphasizes teaching children how to report bullying and say “no” safely
Madison now spends her time volunteering at the gym, helping guide other kids to find that same inner strength. She admits she is still growing and learning every day
“I don’t really have all the answers because I’m still learning things,” Madison said
Ultimately, Madison shares that it is not her physical boxing skills that truly gave her peace through her struggles, but her personal faith
“If you pray, he will answer, and if you really trust him, whatever you need, He will provide that for you,” Madison said. “I don’t really know how it works, but just, he’s there.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, experts and advocates urge you to report it to a parent, teacher, or school administrator and ask for help. Remember: never be quiet
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