WORLD champion boxer Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib has joined the worldwide campaign to support a young Australian boy who was bullied over his dwarfism.
The former featherweight world champion offered to give Quaden Bayles, 9, boxing lesson after seeing a heart-wrenching video of the youngster hysterically crying and saying he wanted to kill himself after he was bullied at school.
Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib is the latest celebrity to get behind Quaden Bayles, who has been overwhelmed with worldwide support after his mum Yarraka went online to show how badly bullying had affected the young lad.
He made the touching promise over a FaceTime call with Quaden, sharing the update with his 31,000 Twitter followers.
He wrote: “Just got off a FaceTime chat with young Quaden he is in really great spirits today.”
“I also spoke with his mother Yarraka about offering young Quaden some one on one boxing sessions and she loves the idea. Looking forward to teaching this little champ some deadly punches.”
The heartwarming video call came after Quaden offered a message of hope to other people who have been bullied in a TV interview, according to News.com.au.
He told National Indigenous Television (NITV) on Friday: “If you get bullied, just stand up for yourself and don’t listen to what they say.”
Quaden said parents needed to teach their children how to behave towards others.
He said: “The parents should make their kids be nice to people with disabilities.”
The nine-year-old Australian was diagnosed with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, three days after he was born and has long been the target for bullies and online trolls.
Yarraka said Quaden had spoken out because he doesn’t want others to have to go through what he has.
She said: “He doesn’t want other kids to be suffering in silence and he doesn’t want other kids to suffer. He sees how it affects us as a family and other peoples as well that have reached out.
“If you’re indigenous you are already copping discrimination and racism. Here we have a child, an indigenous child with a disability. So he’s copping it from every angle.”
In the original clip, which Yarraka posted to Facebook, distraught Quaden can be seen sat in the passenger seat of a car saying, “What’s the point?”, and, “I want someone to kill me”.
Devastated Yarraka captioned the post: “This is the impacts of bullying! I seriously don’t know what else to do!”
The video has sparked an outpouring of support, with National Rugby League side Indigenous All Stars inviting Quaden to lead the team out ahead of a game on Saturday night.
In a clip posted to twitter, NRL star Latrell Mitchell, who has met Quaden in the past, is seen surrounded by his team mates and saying: “Hey Quaden.
“We know you’re going through a hard time right now, but the boys are here, we’ve got your back, we’re here to support you, bud.
“We want you around, we want you to lead us out at the weekend.
“It’s going to mean more to us than it will to you.”
Quaden also received hundreds of supportive comments from social media users, including Hollywood star, and fellow Aussie, Hugh Jackman, who told him: “Quaden, you are stronger than you know mate, and no matter what, you’ve got a friend in me.
“So, everyone lets please be kind to each other – bullying is not okay.”
After viewing the viral video, California-based comedian Brad Williams — who also has dwarfism — organised a fundraiser on GoFundMe to send the boy and his mom to Disneyland in California.
“I’m setting up this GoFundMe to let Quaden know that bullying will not be tolerated, and that he is a wonderful human being who deserves joy,” Williams wrote.
“I want to fly Quaden and his mother to America, get them a nice hotel, and bring them to Disneyland.”
Williams added: “This isn’t just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren’t good enough. Let’s show Quaden and others, that there is good in the world and they are worthy of it.”
So far the appeal has raised more than $340,000 – well over its target of $10,000.
A version of this story first appeared on News.com.au.
NRL star Latrell Mitchell and his team mates at the Indigenous All Stars invited Quaden to lead them out ahead of a game on Saturday night
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