Quaden Bayles' family has decided to donate the money raised for them to go to Disneyland to charities that work to prevent bullying, suicide and raise awareness of dwarfism. It comes after $700,000 AUD (£350,000) was contributed for the family on Go Fund Me after US comedian Brad William’s set up the page so they could take Quaden to the theme park.
Quaden appeared in a harrowing video last week crying after reportedly being bullied for his dwarfism. The video, posted online by his mother who states she normally would not film such an incident but ‘enough is enough’, received over one million likes and tens of thousands of replies.
‘Is there any advice or support other parents or families have done to help raise disability awareness within the schools so that this doesn’t happen?’ his mother asked at the time. ‘The whole anti-bullying shit isn’t working, I’ve got a son that is suicidal almost every day.’
Receiving an outpouring of support from the public, comedian Brad Williams – who also suffers from dwarfism – took the initiative to set up a Go Fund Me account to raise money for Quaden with the title ‘Let’s send a wonderful kid to Disneyland.’
At the time, actor Hugh Jackman also sent Quaden a personal message of support and last week he was invited to walk out with the National Rugby League’s Indigenous All Star Team during an exhibition game, receiving cheers from thousands of fans.
With the Go Fund Me far exceeding its $10,000 AUD goal, Williams released a statement last night informing donators that the family has declined the holiday and instead decided to donate to $100,000 AUD each to seven charities. The charities include suicide prevention and bullying initiatives Born This Way Foundation, STOMP Out Bullying and Dolly’s Dream, as well as Dwarfism Awareness Australia and two charities that work to support indigenous people in Australia (Gallang Place and the Balunu Foundation.)
‘What kid wouldn't want to go to Disneyland, especially if you have lived Quaden's life,' Quaden’s aunt Mundanara Bayles told NITV News. 'But my sister said "you know what, let's get back to the real issue". This little fella has been bullied. How many suicides, black or white, in our society have happened due to bullying.
‘We want the money to go to community organisations that really need it,’ she continued. ‘They know what the money should be spent on. So as much as we want to go to Disneyland, I think our community would far off benefit from that.'
You can donate to the Go Fund Me here____.
Samaritans, which offers a free listening service, can be contacted via its website or by phone on 116 123.
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