Parents use the experiences they have had with their child to help other children who are being bullied

DENVER – Tom and Dru Ahlborg didn’t want to become bullying experts, but when their son was relentlessly bullied in middle school, they found themselves in the middle of a crash course on the subject.

“If you’re feeling powerless and your kid is suicidal or whatever, you do whatever it takes,” Tom recalls.

Tom and Dru Ahlborg founded the Bullying Recovery Resource Center in 2018. Since then, they’ve built on the expertise they’ve developed themselves to help children and families who need a voice in their corner that believes in them.

“We teach them how to talk about bullying,” says Dru. “We want to use a different language. The child is not a victim. You are a target.”

With the help of a team of experienced volunteers, BRRC provides the things families need. Everything from information and support to advocates to help them work with their child’s school to find solutions.

BRRC has helped dozens of families over the years, and while they’ve seen a rise in violent bullying recently, they say physical bullying isn’t the only challenge families face.

“There’s a lot of avoidance, talking and the like,” describes Dru. “It can be just as damaging as any other type of bullying.”

• To learn more about the programs offered by the Bullying Recovery Resource Center, including how you can help, Click here. BRRC is having a golf fundraiser on April 22nd. Click here for information.
• If you or someone you know is in distress, call the Suicide and Crisis Helpline click here or dial 988.
• Safe2Tell accepts reports from students or anyone else concerned about their safety. Click here for information.

“In another way, we saw that Safe2Tell was notified about a child who will bring a gun. And this is the kid being bullied and they get a visit at 2am,” adds Tom.

And while the Ahlborgs seek to change the way schools deal with incidents of bullying, their larger goal is much more clearly defined: to be there for children in need so they don’t attempt suicide.

“When this child knows they are being protected, they will be heard and we will find a solution to keep them safe,” says Dru.

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