Family paints positive messages on rocks for bully victims

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – October is Bully Awareness Month. One Middle Georgia family is standing against bullies. A family whose daughter – they say – is a victim of bullying, and are making sure other kids don’t hit “rock” bottom.

This year’s Bully Awareness Month’s theme: Stomp Out Bullying.

The Gorton family is making it their mission to stop bullying. After their daughter has mentioned suicide.

“Our daughter is 12 and at 9-years old, she self-harmed for the first time. She started talking about suicide at 9-years old. I couldn’t even fathom that stuff. What are 8 and 9-year-old kids doing committing suicide,” mother Amy Gorton said.

Amy’s daughter, Ashley, has been a victim of bullying since third grade.

“They all need to understand, that’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem. There is help,” she said.

Amy’s making it her mission to make sure kindness goes a long way.

“Trying to paint anti-bullying messages [like] ‘say no to bullying.’ She’s got ‘be a buddy not a bully,’ ‘follow your dreams,'” father Todd Gorton said.

She’s painting positive messages on rocks to put around Middle Georgia for victims of bullying to find.

“Something simple as a little emoji, walks along, finds it, and says ‘hey that’s cool.’ It may take them out of a bad moment in their mind and change their outcome for however long. It just maybe that little thing that changes their day,” he said.

On the back of the rocks, Amy’s Facebook group: Ashley’s Beacon of Hope. Families, Friends, and Bikers Against Bullying.

So victims of bullying and families, can go to have someone listen and help.

“No matter how bad you’ve had it, someone loves you. No matter how bad you want to leave this Earth, someone will miss you,” Amy said.

She says they are also handing out blue ribbons for Bully Awareness Month. She’s putting the rocks at parks so that kids can find them.

If you know someone who is being bullied or has suicidal thoughts call 1-800-273-8255.