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| Bullying made Calzaghe a 'wreck' | Bullying made Calzaghe a 'wreck' |
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| Retired world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe has described how school bullies turned him into a "introverted wreck" as a youngster. | Retired world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe has described how school bullies turned him into a "introverted wreck" as a youngster. |
| He was speaking before launching an advertising campaign for Beatbullying, a charity helping victims of the form of abuse across the UK. | |
| Calzaghe, the former world super-middleweight champion, quit boxing last month after 46 unbeaten fights. | |
| He said bullying online now created more misery for many children. | He said bullying online now created more misery for many children. |
| The 37-year-old from Newbridge, in south Wales, was helping Beatbullying launch an advertising campaign for its new website CyberMentors. | The 37-year-old from Newbridge, in south Wales, was helping Beatbullying launch an advertising campaign for its new website CyberMentors. |
| The social-networking site is staffed by more than 700 youngsters who offer advice to their peers about bullying. | The social-networking site is staffed by more than 700 youngsters who offer advice to their peers about bullying. |
| For two years I was bullied, called names and ignored by former friends which turned me from a happy, out-going kid who enjoyed school and schoolwork, into an introverted wreck Joe Calzaghe | For two years I was bullied, called names and ignored by former friends which turned me from a happy, out-going kid who enjoyed school and schoolwork, into an introverted wreck Joe Calzaghe |
| Since it was launched on 3 March it has been visited by more than 23,000 young people, said Beatbullying. | Since it was launched on 3 March it has been visited by more than 23,000 young people, said Beatbullying. |
| It said hundreds of those who have sought help have admitted to having suicidal thoughts or wanted to self-harm as a result of bullying. | It said hundreds of those who have sought help have admitted to having suicidal thoughts or wanted to self-harm as a result of bullying. |
| Calzaghe is patron of Beatbullying. | Calzaghe is patron of Beatbullying. |
| He said: "I know only too well from my own experiences as a victim of bullying while at school what a serious issue bullying is for thousands of youngsters. | He said: "I know only too well from my own experiences as a victim of bullying while at school what a serious issue bullying is for thousands of youngsters. |
| "For two years I was bullied, called names and ignored by former friends which turned me from a happy, out-going kid who enjoyed school and schoolwork, into an introverted wreck, detached from his studies and scared of his own shadow during school hours. | "For two years I was bullied, called names and ignored by former friends which turned me from a happy, out-going kid who enjoyed school and schoolwork, into an introverted wreck, detached from his studies and scared of his own shadow during school hours. |
| "Unfortunately, in the age of the internet - which didn't exist in my school days - cyber-bullying has now added to the misery bullies can inflict. | "Unfortunately, in the age of the internet - which didn't exist in my school days - cyber-bullying has now added to the misery bullies can inflict. |
| "If I can take my own experience and raise awareness and help because of what I've achieved in boxing then I will be happy." | "If I can take my own experience and raise awareness and help because of what I've achieved in boxing then I will be happy." |
| It just goes to show if it can happen to me it can happen to anybody, it's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Joe Calzaghe | |
| He added that he believed the website would empower youngsters to stamp out bullying. | He added that he believed the website would empower youngsters to stamp out bullying. |
| "I've been through it myself. It's a very horrible thing to go through especially as a child at school," said Calzaghe. | |
| "A lot of the other kids who I didn't really know would gang up and call me names and that happened for over a year. | |
| "It was a very tough time for me. I bottled a lot of it up inside. It just goes to show if it can happen to me it can happen to anybody, it's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. | |
| "I went into a shell, my personality changed. I used to hate going to school." | |
| He added: "I was the world champion for 11 years, I was the best fighter in the world, but I was also somebody who was bullied - it just goes to show it can happen to anyone. | |
| "A lot of kids do self-harm and do kill themselves and maybe if they had someone to talk to this wouldn't happen." | |
| Beatbullying adverts will be posted on more than 1,000 billboards and bus stops across the country and will also feature in magazines and on websites. | |
| They have been designed for free by M&C Saatchi and depict the silhouettes of young people who have killed themselves, next to words commonly used as taunts. | |
| Beatbullying said that in a survey of 2,000 youngsters aged between 11 and 18, 56% admitted to being bullied online. | Beatbullying said that in a survey of 2,000 youngsters aged between 11 and 18, 56% admitted to being bullied online. |
| Emma-Jane Cross, chief executive of Beatbullying, said: "Bullying in any form is unacceptable but sadly it is an issue that has only been propagated by digital innovations." | |