Be a Buddy Not a Bully from Miller Public Relations on Vimeo.

An emerging effort to prevent bullying in schools is being carried out by motivational speaker and former Power Team member Willie Raines in partnership Johnny Gayton, M.D., founder and chief surgeon at Eyesight Associates. The two have partnered to create the Be a Buddy, Not a Bully campaign.

Students struggle to maintain hope and their core identity when facing bullying. These children and teens face alienation and deep emotional scarring. Some of these bullied students end up taking their own life, a feeling Dr. Gayton remembers from his own childhood.

“I was bullied often. Being small, from the wrong side of the tracks, and making good grades was not a good combination to avoid bullying,” recalled Dr. Gayton. “There were times I just wanted to die, but I am so glad I didn’t make that choice.”

As a result of this experience, Dr. Gayton has a keen interest in helping educate students about the true damage that bullying inflicts and offers positive alternatives in its place.

“Dr. Gayton’s is a story of overcoming as he became an accomplished power lifter, pro-wrestler and world class surgeon,” states Reclaiming Ground School Assemblies founder Willie Raines. He continues, “The goal of the Be a Buddy, Not a Bully campaign is to inspire and bring about transformation.”

A recent video featured above has been produced featuring Dr. Gayton and Willie Raines to encourage others facing bullying and to educate those who might bully. The Be A Buddy, Not a Bully campaign aims to have presentations in over 1,000 schools to change student behavior to reduce bullying.