TOWAMENCIN- From posting flyers around the school to selling T-shirts to publicizing on social media, senior Greg Gilrain has been keeping busy to ensure a successful second annual day of awareness for the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign at NPHS. On March 1^st, NPHS will participate in the movement to end the use of the R-Word.

Inspired by his brother, Gilrain proposed the implementation of the campaign last year.

“Spread the Word to End the Word is a national campaign,” explained Gilrain. “I started it here last year at NPHS. What made me bring it here was watching the challenges I saw my brother go through in school being excluded and everything. I wanted to do something about it.”

On the annual day of awareness, students will have the opportunity to take the pledge, which is not only to get rid of the R-Word, but also spread and encourage a more respectful use of language. Gilrain stated that while students can go online themselves to www.r-word.org, they will have the opportunity to take the pledge during lunch.

Equipped with banners to sign and clipboards to write down their name and age in the senior cafeteria on Wednesday, Gilrain has spent an ample amount of time preparing for the day of awareness. Not only that, but Gilrain reported that over sixty T-shirts for the day of awareness have also been sold in advance in B112. All proceeds from T-shirt sales will go towards Special Olympics.

Discussing the inspiration behind bringing the campaign to NPHS, Gilrain noted that his brother served as the main reason.

“It’s so important to me, because my brother means a lot to me, but I think the most part is understanding him,” stated Gilrain. “I don’t understand him most of the time, but I think it’s mainly the other kids. He’s not around normal people like us. He’s in a special needs class. You have to have a day that they can be more involved in things, because they’re more alike than different.”

Connected with and supported by Best Buddies and Special Olympics, Gilrain noted that Ms. Kathleen Kerper and Ms. Megan Schoppe, Special Education teachers at NPHS, helped make the campaign a reality.

“Everything happened so fast last year. It was in two weeks that everything was out there and approved. This year it’s harder, because I want to do more,” said Gilrain.

In addition to support within NPHS, Gilrain has received a helping hand from Judge Andrea Duffy, a Magisterial District Judge from Montgomery County. After meeting with Judge Duffy recently, Gilrain reported that two discussed how each party could help the other.

“She runs a campaign that she wants me to help her with,” stated Gilrain. “We’re going to cross over and help each other. She does a drug campaign, provides resources to kids, and gives a lot of kids a second chance, too.”

Gilrain also explained that much of his support and inspiration for the day of awareness stems from the North Penn Valley Boys and Girls Club, where he serves as the Safe Clubs Coordinator and has been named the Youth of the Year.

Quoting Heidi Wills, “We can choose to be affected by the world, or we can choose to affect the world,” Gilrain explained that if he and his peers can live by that quote, they’ll be the ultimate champion of change.

“You have to go through obstacles in order to know your full potential. If you didn’t have any struggles, you don’t know who you are,” stated Gilrain.

For more information about the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign at NPHS, contact Greg Gilrain or check out the following social media outlets: Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @endther_nphs.