NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 24, 2010 – “Starvin’” Marvin Nash, 30-year rodeo clown veteran and co-founder of the anti-bullying educational program,
Bullying Hurts, is teaming up with four time world champion bull rider, Tuff Hedeman, to distribute FREE admission coupons to select Dallas/Ft. Worth area elementary schools for admittance to the
18th Annual Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Challenge in Ft. Worth on March 6. The schools will then be entered into a drawing to receive a FREE Bullying Hurts program, a $2,000.00 value. The winner will be announced March 6.
Participating schools include:
The 18th Annual Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Challenge takes place Saturday, March 6 at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Ft. Worth beginning at 7:30 pm. With this coupon, all children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available at the Billy Bobs Box Office and all Ticket Master locations.
“This is a very important subject to me, and I appreciate the work Nash and his wife are doing. If we can get a positive message out there to these kids and mentor them, let them know that there are other alternatives and people who care than that is worth all the effort in the world to me.”
To further raise awareness of the deadly cry for acceptance, Nash will push his rodeo barrel from Cleburne, TX into Ft. Worth in memory of Hunter Layland, a 15-year-old Cleburne resident who took his own life as a result of being bullied and teased, according to friends and family. The barrel roll will take three days to complete. Layland was an avid rodeo fan.
“In previous generations much of the public considered bullying as a right of passage or just a childhood phenomenon that would eventually pass as the child grew and reached adulthood,” says Nash.
“Today, more than ever, we are learning that the bullying that occurs in childhood can and does often fester inside the victim until years later when drastic measures are taken to relieve the pain (i.e. Hunter Layland) or in some cases, vindication is accomplished (i.e. Columbine). As the creators of Bullying Hurts, we have always taken a stance that bullying will never go away but we can teach our children how to deal with bullying by giving them the proper tools and the support of people who can soften the blows of bullying. Because of bullying, many of our children are afraid go to their own schools. Every child in America has the right to attend a safe place for their education. Shining a bright light on the problems of bullying is a huge step in keeping those places safe for our children to learn and grow into healthy, happy, contributing citizens of our country.”
ABOUT BULLYING HURTS:
The Bullying Hurts Program is a nationally recognized community service program that focuses on positive youth development and prevention of the anti-social behavior of bullying in schools and communities. Developed by Nash and his wife, Darlene, Bullying Hurts trains high-school kids to mentor grade-schoolers on dealing with bullying. To date, Bullying Hurts has been taught in over 300 schools in 37 states.
Equipped with workbooks, videos, posters and their own bullying stories, high school youth groups work with elementary students teaching them what bullying is and how to deal with bullying in their classrooms and communities. As both groups grow more familiar with each other the high school students become mentors of their younger peers giving them the confidence and tools they will need to seek out support to deal with bullying.
ABOUT THE 18th ANNUAL TUFF HEDEMAN BULL RIDING CHALLENGE:
Some of the world’s best bull riders test their skills against the toughest bucking bulls at the 18th Annual Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Challenge. World Champions J.W. Harris, Wesley Silcox, B.J. Schumacher, Matt Austin, and Cody Hancock are among the entries, as well as CBR Champion Hugo Pedrero, who is also the reigning champion from Mexico. In addition, six young champions from North Texas Jr. Bull Riding associations will compete. The Challenge has been voted the best bull riding in the world 9-times by the competitors.
As added entertainment for the fans, chart-topping Texas/Red Dirt artist Stoney LaRue will entertain in the arena following the bull riding.
The Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Championship is a stop on the 16 city Championship Bull Riding Tour, with money won counting toward the CBR Finals in Las Vegas. The Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Challenge is presented by South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Cinch and Coors Light.
