Quaden Bayles' Family Turns Down Trip To Disneyland – Reveals They Will Donate The Money To Charities Instead

Feb 27, 2020 by apost team

Quaden Bayles' family declines a trip to Disneyland and states that they would like to donate the money to charity instead.

The statement comes after U.S. comedian Brad Williams set up a GoFundMe for the Bayles family after Quaden's mom posted a video of her son Quaden on Facebook. Ms. Bayles posted the video to show the harsh effects of bullying.

The Australian family of the 9-year-old has rejected over $400,000 and said that they would rather give the money to local charities and use it to combat childhood suicide. 

Quaden Bayles, a 9-year-old with dwarfism, became a viral sensation after his mother posted a video of him distraught over bullying. The viral video showed Quaden having suicidal thoughts after a bullying incident at school.

After Quaden's story received worldwide attention U.S. comedian Brad Williams, who also has dwarfism, set up a GoFundMe and raised over $400,000 to send Quaden to Disneyland.

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On Thursday afternoon, Quaden's family shocked his supporters by declining the trip and saying that they would rather the money be given to charities in order to fight against bullying and suicide. 

In regards to turning down the Disney trip, Quaden's aunt Mundanara told NITV News:

"What kid wouldn't want to go to Disneyland, especially if you have lived Quaden's life, but my sister said, 'you know what, let's get back to the real issue.' This little fella has been bullied. How many suicides, black or white, in our society have happened due to bullying."

Quaden's aunt continued about the family's denial of the trip and said:

"We want the money to go to community organizations that really need it. They know what the money should be spent on. So as much as we want to go to Disney land, I think our community would far off benefit from that."

The GoFundMe fundraiser launched just last week and Wiliams, who set-up the fundraiser wrote in the description:

 "9-year-old Quaden is an amazing boy from Australia with dwarfism...Quaden was being bullied so horribly in school, that he just could not take it anymore. His mother filmed his tearful outcry and put it on Facebook to let people know the effect that bullying can have. I'm setting up this GoFundMe to let Quaden know that bullying will not be tolerated, and that he is a wonderful human being who deserves joy. I want to fly Quaden and his mother to America, get them a nice hotel, and bring them to Disneyland."

The family went on to explain that they are still deciding where exactly to donate the money but said that Dwarfism Awareness Australia and the Balunu Healing Foundation were both under consideration. Ms. Bayles told NITV that as a board member for the Murri School in Brisbane, she knows that seven children have committed suicide in the last ten years.

The family is now negotiating with actor Brad Williams because according to GoFundMe rules, all donations must "be used solely as described" and "under no circumstances may [one] use the funds for any other purpose."

Brad Williams had written that "after all the flights, hotel, tickets and food is paid for, any excess money will be donated to anti-bullying/anti-abuse charities."

Aside from worldwide support, Quaden was invited to lead the Indigenous All-Stars team onto the field at CBUS Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday. 

Quaden also got a VIP makeover, including a brand new wardrobe from the Australian brand Culture Kings.

The Houston Rockets NBA team also invited Quaden to sit alongside the court during one of their games in Texas. The team posted:

"Cool shirt, Quaden! We're on your team. We'd like to invite you to Houston to come to a game when you visit the U.S."

What do you think about Quaden's family's decision to donate the money rather than go to Disney? Would you do the same? Let us know what you think and be sure to pass this on to others so they can weigh-in as well!