One of the most anticipated nights of a high school girl’s life is that of prom.
It’s not even really a matter of the dancing, but more so the getting dressed up, lining up for pictures, being asked by your crush and making memories that will last forever.
Shannon Purcifer’s prom was different. After bullies tore her down and made her feel ashamed of her bowl disease and arthritis, the 16-year-old decided to forgo her school’s prom altogether.
After 18 months of name-calling, intimidation games and physical bullying, Shannon’s peers had done a number on her.
Her mother, Claire Carstens, posted a photo of her beautiful daughter sporting the dress that would never be seen at the prom writing:
“If Shannon had gone to prom tonight, she would (sic) of worn this beautiful dress. Thanks to nasty, vile bullies, Shannon decided she didn’t want to go and mix with scum that made her so miserable.”
“For a girl that has had so much to deal with in life…coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, she is one strong young lady with an even stronger mind.”
Claire’s post was merely to blow off some steam and of course show off how beautiful her daughter looked despite not going to the prom. She never expected for it to attract a viral response, but it did!
A month after Claire first shared Shannon’s “prom photos,” a fleet of over 120 bikers along with 100 of Shannon’s closest family and friends showed up at her door to throw a special prom in her honor.