Marc Márquez, Dani Pedrosa, Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami visit a school to raise awareness among young people about the importance of the fight against bullying.
More than 1,200 students of the Sagrada Familia de Jorge Juan school in Madrid today welcomed four World Champions: Repsol Honda MotoGP riders Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa, and trial riders Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami.
Márquez and Pedrosa, fresh from racing and testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, and Bou and Fujinami -who are already preparing for the start of the X-Trial World Championship, joined together for a worthwhile cause: The fight against bullying.
The quartet have won a total of 32 world titles, the most recent achieved last Sunday by Marc Márquez in MotoGP. Together they stood up to fight harassment in classrooms, under the slogan ‘Stop bullying’.
In a packed playground, the four riders answered questions in a Q&A session with the children.
REPSOL CAMPAIGN
The pupils in Madrid received the visit of the riders after winning a contest organised by Repsol on their website (repsol.com). To participate, each school was asked to create a video that reflected values such as tolerance and showed the actions they are taking to avoid bullying. In total, 47 educational centres throughout Spain participated and the ten schools with the most support went through to the last phase.
Finally, the winning video was that of the Sagrada Familia de Jorge Juan school, in which all students speak out together against bullying. The centre has a plan of action and prevention against bullying in which both students and teachers and families are involved. In response to the children’s questions, the Repsol riders stressed that the key to combating bullying is companionship and respect, without leaving people to suffer from it alone.
On May 2nd, the International Day against Bullying, Repsol launched a campaign in which it denounced this serious social problem. This initiative has had continuity in different actions, such as the competition in schools. Repsol, which is part of society as a whole, wishes to convey a clear and resounding message that helps eradicate a situation that many children and young people still suffer.
Marc Márquez
“Today’s event is almost a tradition. After the Valencia test, we visit a school thanks to Repsol and meet the school with the winning project. Coming to an event like this, with so many children, is always nice, and even more so if it is for a cause such as the fight against bullying. Being able to do our bit to contribute is important, and we also like seeing how the children enjoy the day and get excited by it.”
Dani Pedrosa
“It’s nice to be able to enjoy a day like today. The children’s excitement gives you phenomenal energy. It’s amazing to see how they, and even the teachers, are enthused by our visit, and how we can all come together for a good cause: The fight against bullying. I think it is very important because today’s society has to be inclusive and we have to work together. With this cause, we have got all the children to join their efforts to achieve a common good.”
Toni Bou
“It’s always fun and interesting to share these moments with the children, see how happy they are and get involved with them, at the same time helping in the fight against bullying. I want to thank Repsol once again for giving us this opportunity. I hope all the children have had a lot of fun. I think it’s been a different day for them and one that they will remember for a long time.”
Takahisa Fujinami
“It is important that the children have enjoyed our visit today, but it is also important that we can collaborate in the fight against bullying. We are well-known athletes and we can raise awareness of this problem with events like this, but it is something that we have to fight together.”
