A Letter From the Founder

My name is Bruno Steppuhn. At the time of writing this letter, I'm just 7 days away from starting my own pull-up challenge. I call this, the Bullying Pull-up Challenge. By starting this project, my hope is that others, like yourself, will catch on to help spread the word that bullying does not belong in our society.

Honestly, if I can complete this challenge, then so can you!

I too have experienced bullying. In fact, when I was a child I changed schools 3 times as a result of being bullied. After graduating grade 8, my Papa and I traveled across most of western Canada in search of a private school because I was afraid of joining the high-school in my home town. To that end, I was bullied at the private school that I attended anyway, then lashed out just so that I could get kicked out of school and leave that awful place. Some days I even pretended that I was sick just so that I didn't have to be near any of my classmates that made fun of me. This isn't a story I've shared with many people but I am strong enough now to tell it.

The harsh reality is that bullying isn't just a one time incident, or isolated to certain places. Bullying is everywhere and children are dying because of this type of behaviour. Bullying is also a cycle. Some of the psychological damages it can imprint on a person are then passed on by victims turn bullies themselves. Bullying is a constant thirst for power over another, when in reality we're all equal. Regardless of our differences, we all bleed the same.

The first time someone falls victim to bullying, they can usually just sluff it off. "Oh, heh. No big deal. Those kids were just messing around." The second time it happens, it gets a little harder to shrug aside. The third and fourth time, you start to wonder what's wrong with yourself. "When will it stop?" you ask yourself.

That's how this challenge is designed. It's designed to show just how much of a toll that bullying can really put on a person, let alone an impressionable innocent child. The pull-up on day 1 can be accomplished, even if you're using some sort of assistance (try the Australian pull-up variation). Then on day 2 with having to do 2 pull-ups, it gets just a little bit harder. Then day 3, the compounding difficulty starts to manifest into the reality of the challenge that lies ahead for the next 27 days. This challenge only lasts for 30 days. Could you imagine the life of a child that attends school where they're bulled for up to 10 months of the school year? How about the next grade?

So, why do I believe that doing pull-ups will help stop bullying? I believe that challenges like this get people thinking. What better way to spread the word than through fitness? This challenge, my challenge is as much a physical challenge as it will be a mental challenge. Starting on November 7, 2018 I will use the next 30 days to help reflect on my experiences with bullying as I share them with you and find ways to overcome this type of social adversity. I am not doing this for fame, or for money, but rather to share my experiences with bullying. I honestly want the cycle to stop and it's going to take a community to make this a reality.

For the last 7 months I've worked moderately hard, while managing my small business, at my own personal fitness goals. So far I have been able to work up to being able to do 10 traditional style pull-ups in a single set. So, I'm looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish.

In just a few days from now, I'll traveling to Hawaii with my fiancée where we will be getting married in just a few short weeks surrounded by our closest family and friends. Let me tell you, that I am excited to say the least! This is an important detail because I believe in the Bullying Pull-up Challenge so much, that I'll be doing it while I'm on vacation.

I encourage you to join me in my quest to stop bullying. It's about time that we pull up our britches and use the energy that we have for something positive.

I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish as a community. Thank you for joining the Bullying Pull-up Challenge!

#bullyingpullupchallenge

2 thoughts on “A Letter From the Founder”

  1. Bruno this is amazing what you’re doing. I definitely will try myself although I don’t really have anything to pull myself up by any suggestions? would it be okay if I did push-ups rather than pull ups as I definitely don’t think I can do a pull-up LOL. I was not bullied as much as you but my mom did tell me I came home crying every single day in elementary school. I had people spitting on me saying I had poop on my face because of my beauty mark. Kids are so cruel. I’m worried about my boys going into school going through bullying. I will do my best to let them know that I am here and to stick up for others and theirselfs. We need to end this bullying.
    I’m so excited to hear that you guys are getting married and I can’t wait to see the photos. We’ll have to get together one of these days. Life with two babies and work it’s busy.

    Jenna-May

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