He didn’t want to live anymore, that’s how extreme the bullying was for an Indiana sixth-grader. It’s not uncommon to hear of the plights of bullied students, some of which involve tragic ends, including suicide. But this time, the outcome is much better, thanks to a pretty awesome biker gang who happened to hear about the bullying.
Phil Mick, a sixth-grader at Dekalb Middle School in Indiana, told his mother how he was bullied by fellow classmates due to his weight, and that some physically assaulted him. He told his mother that he even thought of ending his life. But, the story took a different turn after his mother, Tammy Mick, talked to her friend Brent Warfield, who is the director of United Motorcycle Enthusiast, and who organizes charities in Indiana.
Warfield took advantage of social media, posting on Facebook about his idea to escort Phil to school. According to The Daily Wire:
The motorcyclist posted about young Phil’s situation on his Facebook account, asking if others would like to escort the student to school. Warfield says he was overwhelmed with responses from fellow bikers, some traveling from over an hour away.
Taking a stand against bullying, over 50 bikers escorted Phil and Tammy to school on their motorcycles. The group ate breakfast together and the bikers prayed over the boy.
“Dear Lord Jesus, I just ask you to watch over Phil. I know how tough it can be,” the powerful prayer in front of the school began.
Warfield has spoken on Facebook about the incident, as recently as Saturday morning.
In addition to expressing his thanks and posting pictures of Phil’s first day of school, he also shared information about t-shirts whose proceeds will in part go towards raising money to stop bullying.
The bikers didn’t just leave their loving mark on Phil for that first day of school, though. They also bought him new clothes and school supplies to start the year off with. Phil saw it as having “a guardian angel watching over me,” he told local reporters.
Phil is an example of a boy saved, and not just a statistic from another tragedy. He’s not the only young person the bikers are committed to, however. There’s a ride planned for September 23 against teen bullying and suicide.