Anthony
Super Moderator
Joe Bell was walking in honor of his son Jadin. His 15-year-old son was gay and suffered from bullying. His goal was to walk across the country to raise awareness about bullying that affects gay students.
He began spreading his message in April by walking from Oregon to New York City.
“He was hurting so bad,†Bell said before started his mission. “Just the bullying at school. Yeah there were other issues, but ultimately it was all due to the bullying, for not being accepted for being gay.â€
On his mission he just wanted to go out and help others.
“For me personally, I’ll speak from my heart, and I think that people will understand that,†Joe said in April. “My goal is to get my son’s word out there, his name, his experience. I just want to get our story out there.â€
Bell was walking along a highway in Colorado on Wednesday night when he was hit by a semi-truck and killed.
We think the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel when he hit Joe as he walked on the shoulder, a Colorado State Patrol spokesman said.
"We send prayers to his family and friends," the sheriff's office said in a statement on Facebook.
After the death of Jadin, the family founded a group to help educate people about bullying called “Faces for Change.â€
"We're all shocked and saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of Joe Bell," Faces For Change, a nonprofit anti-bullying foundation established in memory of Jadin, said in a statement.
