“Shocked and amazed”: Neighbours raise over $50,000 for bullied boy
A couple from Texas has helped raise over $55,000 for their young neighbour who was being bullied.
Their story began when young Shayden Walker knocked on the door of Brennan Ray and Angell Hammersmith, looking for friends.
The conversation was captured on their home’s video doorbell system, as Walker asked if they knew any children between the ages of 11 and 12 because he “needs some friends really bad”.
Walker, who approached their house wearing a Jaws t-shirt, explained that some neighbourhood kids had been bullying him.
“I could hear the innocence and vulnerability in his voice,” Ray told DailyMail.com. “All I knew is that I wanted to help the kid.”
The video has since been viewed on TikTok more than 66 million times, with TikTokers from across the world commenting that they hope he finds some “REAL friends soon” and saying “I have never wanted to hug a kid so bad in my life.”
Ray and Hammersmith decided to start a GoFundMe page for Walker, asking people to “spread kindness for Shayden” and give what they can to help provide for the boy, while encouraging people to “come together and show him he's got some friends.”
“We are raising money to help buy him a gaming system, school clothes and hopefully some amusement park tickets and anything else he may want or need,” the fundraising page reads.
In just four days of the fundraising page being online, people from around the world have helped donate more than $55,000AUD to Shayden and his family, with the organisers saying they are “shocked and amazed” at people’s generosity.
Many of the donations came with messages for Shayden, saying “You have a friend in me.”
Walker's stepfather now says Shayden's a “totally different kid” than he was just last week, while the young boy said in a video posted to his father's TikTok page that “Y'all have touched my heart so much, it's just literally to the point where I want to cry.”
The family have requested that the donations be turned off on the donations page, saying they are not seeking any money.
Many people commented on Shayden’s message, praising his bravery and sending messages of support.
One person wrote, “Shayden, you are a strong kid. No one deserves to be bullied or made fun of.”
“You are incredibly brave to be putting yourself out there and actively looking for friends instead of staying in the house.”
“I know you are young, but the best advice I can give you is that you do not need anyone's validation but your own to know your worth. If you love yourself, you will never be alone.”
Image credits: GoFundMe