BuffStanders is a bully prevention task force that has united with NHS to hold a fundraiser to promote anti-dating violence; all the proceeds will go to Gateway Battered Women’s Services. Gateway Battered Women’s Services is a emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence in Aurora/Denver and the surrounding metro area. 

“Our goal is to fundraise for the shelter and promote safe relationships. We are a club that stands up for anti-bullying and dating violence. Dating violence is a big cause so we thought selling teddy bears would be a fun way to raise money,” co-president of BuffStanders Neha Lamsal said.

“We wanted to do this during Valentine’s day because we [paired] up with NHS for our Dating Violence Awareness campaign. This is the best time of the year to do this, because everyone is thinking about love,” sponsor of BuffStanders June Hicks, Psy.D., said.

BuffStanders and NHS sold students/staff teddy bears, chocolates, sweethearts, and candy grams during both lunches Monday,Tuesday, and Wednesday. Their goal was to raise as much money as they could for the shelter.

“Thankfully, King Soopers donated a lot. Our main goal in this fundraiser is to have people stand against abusive relationships. Nobody should be bullied or abused in a relationship; whether the relationship is with your significant other, or whether the relationship is with a friend,”Lamsal said.Today during fourth period BuffStanders and NHS will personally deliver candy grams to students and staff members who bought them. Participants of both the clubs have been going in and out of class all day to prepare the candy grams.

“All of the students have put in a lot of work and I am happy to see them make a change in the world,”Hicks said.