Suman Virk and Carol Todd will be forever linked by the issue of bullying.
Both found strength after the tragic deaths of their daughters by becoming outspoken anti-bullying advocates.
Sadly, only one remains to continue the fight.
Virk died on June 16 at the age of 58 having never seen true justice for her 14-year-old daughter, Reena, who was murdered in 1997 after being swarmed and beaten by a group of mostly teen girls.
One of the killers, Kelly Ellard, hasn’t taken real responsibility for her role in the killing. Suman and the rest of the Virk family had to suffer through three painful trials for Ellard, and then watched as this killer had a baby in prison before being released to a halfway house and her freedom.
Suman and her husband Manjit channelled the pain of Reena’s death into a decades-long anti-violence campaign. They travelled the country speaking to high school students and helped develop programs to combat bullying.
For this, the couple was awarded B.C.’s highest honour for community safety and crime prevention, the Anthony J. Hulme Award of Distinction.
As for Carol Todd, she is still fighting for justice for her daughter Amanda, who took her own life at the age of 15 after being cyberbullied.
Carol is calling for 10,000 signatures to be signed to an e-petition (petition e-1736) urging the federal government to proclaim Oct. 10 as World Mental Health Day. It can be found at http://www.amandatoddlegacy.org/e-petition-for-mental-health.html
“It is important to know that asking for help is OK and that there are people around us who care and want to help,” Carol said. “Awareness and education is necessary to bring together the conversations needed to lessen the fear about talking about mental health, addictions and suicide preventions.”
Neither mother asked for this role – it was thrust on them.
Both embraced it – Suman until her final moments and Carol in her continuing fight.
Let’s honour both of these mothers by signing the petition, and by being more active in the fight against bullying.
