ALDIE, Va. — A couple hundred people came to the Ohana Preservation Foundation grounds Sunday morning to walk 3.25 miles. That’s in honor of Brody Watson’s birthday, March 25th. Two and a half years ago, Brody took his own life.
Every step taken on Sunday was in his memory.
“We’re finding some purpose that helps us get through the days," said Brody's father, Ashley Watson.
Brody Watson was a 7th grader who was bullied by some of his classmates. In 2022, he told someone about it.
“He did go to an administrator that day and told them what was going on. Unfortunately, they didn’t let us know until after his passing,' said Brody's mother, Wendy Watson. "We do feel strongly that if we would’ve known, then we could’ve possibly saved his life.”
That night, in late February, Brody took his own life. While they aren’t certain, the family believes bullying played a major part.
“Our son didn’t have any signs of depression or suicidal ideation or any of that," said Wendy Watson. "We want people to know this can happen to you.”
This month Brody’s mother, father and twin brother started the Brody Ohana Fund.
Its goal is to raise bullying and mental health awareness as well as funds for programs and counseling for kids. It also offers grief programs for parents who have lost a child.
"Brody was a kind kid, and he stood up for others when everyone was silent and now, we’re doing that for him," said Ashley Watson. "He’s not here. He doesn’t have a voice, but we can keep his memory alive by doing things like this.”
In 2023, the Watson family changed Virginia law. The state passed a bill in Brody’s honor.
It says school administration must alert parents of any reported bullying within 24 hours.
“We will never know if that would’ve made a difference," said Ashley Watson. "We still don’t know 100% what happened that night, but we do know this happened on the bus that day and we were not notified.”
The Watson’s will travel any terrain to make sure that doesn’t happen to any family again.
“The pain never goes away, but we have to try and turn this into something positive and doing that is helping others," said Ashley Watson. "There’s still some gaps in the state laws, in the policies in some of the county schools, so we’re not done yet."
If you would like to make a donation to the Brody Ohana Foundation, you can do so here.