By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Support4Maddie Ride and Rally took place Sunday to raise awareness about bullying and provide financial support for a bullying victim.
Held at the Galion Municipal Airport, gates opened for motorcycle registration at 11 a.m., followed by the Galion Cruise for the motorcycles at noon. The anti-bullying rally and fundraiser finished with Maddie’s Story during which Maddie Hoffman shared her story of being put in the position of the fight and the positive outlook she has gained from it.
“It was very unreal it didn’t seem like it was happening, but then it got very real very quickly,” Hoffman said. “I was scared for a long time even after it happened as to what people were going to think about me because I thought that I lost the fight, but I don’t see it that way anymore, because it gives me a chance to tell people what I have been through and try to help them.”
Hoffman gave advice she has learned from the incident to people who may be being bullied.
“Even if you are scared to tell somebody I definitely feel like you should, just in case something were to happen someone will know about it, and they can’t say they didn’t know,” Hoffman said.
The event featured multiple speakers including Mansfield Councilman Donnie Bryant, and veteran Ray Hoskin.
Event coordinator Bill Baker felt the day turned out well.
“I think today was excellent,” Baker said. “It was able to create a diverse group of people. Maddie had started speaking early, and we had another group of people show up, so she started over from the beginning.”
All proceeds from the event went into a fund to help cover medical and legal bills for Maddie. A Gofundme account has also been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/Support4Maddie. The support page on Facebook for Maddie can be found at https://www.facebook.com/support4maddie.
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