Memorial walk to celebrate life of bullied 13-year-old girl

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

Lauren Nicole Bowman’s life will be celebrated with a 1-mile memorial walk and balloon release Sunday at Austintown Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road.

Participants can sign up for the walk at 4:45 p.m. at the park’s gazebo. The balloon release follows the walk.

Lauren, 13, died in mid-August, the day before her first day of eighth grade was to begin at St. Christine School.

Officials from St. Christine provided grief counselors for students, parents and staff members who were impacted by her death.

Lauren’s family is organizing the event.

Trustee Jim Davis said the township is supporting the family’s efforts by allowing them use of the park.

Davis said the walk was an important part of raising bullying awareness in schools and the community at large, suggesting that bullying is an issue not only for schoolchildren.

“Bullying happens to adults, too,” Davis said. “People get bullied about their race, their sexual orientation, their religion.”

He urged people to consider the potential implications of their words.

“Everyone needs to take a second to think about what they say and how it might affect the person they’re saying it to,” Davis said.