For high school students, prom is one of the highlights of high school. It marks the end of school and also acts as a send off into adulthood and a whole new life. It’s an exciting time that requires a lot of preparation. You have to find a date, choose your outfit, buy flowers, and more.
One student who especially looked forward to going to her prom was Shannon Purcifer. Unfortunately, though, the 16-year-old from Hampshire, England didn’t get to go after some bullies tried to crush her dream.
But with a little help from some kindhearted friends and strangers, she got the last laugh…
For 16-year-old Shannon, prom was going to be a nice end to high school. Shannon’s teen years had been tough. She suffers from several diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis (rectal intestinal inflammation) and coeliac disease.
Shannon had chosen her white prom dress with great care. But when the big day came, Shannon chose to stay home.
Shannon’s classmates teased her about her illnesses so much that she felt like she couldn’t go.
Her mother, Claire Carstens, wrote about the incident on Facebook:
“If Shannon had gone to prom tonight she would of worn this beautiful dress. Thanks to nasty vile bullies shannon decided she didn’t want to go and mix with scum that made her so miserable. For a girl that has had so much to deal with in life… coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, she is one strong young lady with an even stronger mind!! Love you girl”
Shannon’s mom’s post went viral and soon friends, acquaintances and strangers started a fund for Shannon. The idea was about to create a special prom for Shannon — where her friends and acquaintances could celebrate with her.
“This isn’t all about bad mouthing the school but the school certainly needs to sort out bullying as soon as they are aware of it. This is about showing all those nasty bullies that they won’t win and also showing anyone that is being bullied, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Shannon’s mom explained.
Shannon’s private prom was held at St. Vincent College and was a super success! It started with 120 bikers from a local motorcycle club called Gosport Scooter Club showing up at Shannon’s house. They wanted to show her support and escort her to the party.
Around 100 people gathered at the prom, both friends and strangers. Together, they put together an elegant party with a buffet and a disco ball on the ceiling. It was an unforgettable evening!
Bullying can affect everyone, and unfortunately, Shannon is far from the only one to experience it. But this story shows that good always prevails and the bullies can never win. Share the article on Facebook to remind your friends!
