BUHeroes Inspiration: Dave Matthew Boddy, The BUHeroes Community Founder and Mentor.
I feel it is time I shared about my life, and why I focused on creating the BUHeroes Community. I have faced numerous struggles in my life in regards to bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, medical issues, and more. My struggles have led me to where I began The BUHeroes Community in 2011, and I will explain with intent to detail just why inspiration, unity, and empowerment are huge for me.
I am a survivor of over 16-years of depression, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 1997, diagnosed with permanent brain damage in 2011 due to 15 concussions, battled suicidal thoughts in 1999, 2006, and 2011, lost a best friend in 2004 due to suicide, I was bullied from kindergarten right up until grade 12 both verbally and physically.
My experiences with being bullied varied from being spat on, kicked, pushed, shoved, punched, called names, and once in grade 6 I was held down and had rocks and razor blades thrown at me. It was tough attending school daily knowing I was going to experience bullying. There were times I would fake being ill in order not to have to go, however, I eventually garnered the mindset I could overcome it, and I did as soon as I joined the high school football team, joining the football team helped me garner more confidence and self-esteem, and it allowed me an outlet to exercise. Joining football saved my life as, genuinely.
I also grew up as a die-hard professional wrestling fan due to being around the industry from ages 4–9 years old. I was friends with Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and more for those years. I was very close to Matthew Annis when I attended local gym, BJ’s Gym. Sadly, Matthew passed away due to flesh eating disease at only 13 years old, then Owen passed away in 1999, and then Davey Boy in 2002.
I pursued professional wrestling when I was 19-years old, however, had to leave the industry in 2006 due to being assaulted with a shovel while I was robbed, and suffering my 12th of 15 concussions. This sent me into a serious depression in 2006, which led me telling my best friend I wanted to end my own life.
I struggled with depression for many years due to concussions, and it became a serious issue after my 12th concussion. My 12th concussion caused some damage to my brain in regards to emotional stability, memory, and vision. I suffered 3 more concussions afterwards as well which led to me being admitted in brain injury rehab for several months. It was while I was in injury rehab where I was diagnosed with permanent brain damage that affects my vision, memory, and it also increased some of my ADHD symptoms.
While I was in injury rehab I was seeing over 9 therapists from all areas, such as physical therapy, psychologists, at-home visitations, and cognitive therapists. Even though it was a very difficult time, I will forever be thankful for their support. They saved my life, literally.
I started to struggle with depression while I was in injury rehab due to all the difficulties in my life. My son was 3 years old when this happened, and I was unable to hold him or even play with him due to dizzy spells, and more issues. I fell into a serious depression and strongly considered suicide. I remember it as if it was yesterday, I had the pills, and I was ready to do it, however, I then had a vision of my son laughing, and I broke down crying. I dumped the pills, and I vowed from thereon I would overcome. My son saved my life.
When I was discharged from injury rehab I began a Facebook group known as, “Boddyguards Against Bullying”. It was created as a means for me to support youths through bullying and depression. I started to see how it was an amazing outlet for others, and for myself as well. I started to feel a lot happier knowing I was helping others.
My best friend Sunday Omony heard what I was doing, and how I wanted to try public speaking. Sunday then invited me to come speak with her to 900+ students, and I jumped at the invite immediately. I made my speaking debut, and I fell in love with it. I would speak live with Sunday another time, and I started to realize this was a hidden passion of mine.
I started to build Boddyguards Againts Bullying with intent to create a worldwide youth support system. This is when I met my good friend, Ryan Perez. He and I began developing the Boddyguards logo and other details for a live event I was planning.
It was then The BUHeroes Community was created, and ever since then we have gown to become the network for youth inspiration. It all began from my struggles, overcoming those struggles, and then focusing on creating an outlet to support youths. I began mentoring youths immediately, my focus was to use my story as a means to inspire youths to overcome. This was when I created my favorite quote, located below:
I vowed to support youths to understand that the hero they need to be lies within them. I strove to support youths to understand that as long as they are alive, they can adapt and affect change.
I made my debut as an international selling author on February 7th, 2014 with Tenacious Living’s compilation book, “Choose Your Own Adventure”. The book debuted as top 20 on Amazon.com! Photo is below:
2014 was also the year I began to chase an interest in the entertainment industry as an actor, however, my break in was once again with good friend Sunday Omony. Sunday asked me to become a producer for her TV series shown on SHAW TV, “the Sunday Omony Show”. I was beyond excited and agreed to become the producer immediately.
The show was created to be a platform for youths to share their stories on numerous topics such as bullying, depression, teen parenting, racism, and much more.
I was the producer for two of the three seasons the show ran for, and it was an amazing experience and allowed me to meet some incredible people who are still close friends of mine.
I began acting while being represented by, “Faces of Wendy”, and it seems almost instantly I was appearing on TV. I first appeared on “Young Drunk Punk”, and slowly I was appearing on more series like “Heartland”, “Hell on Wheels”, and more!
With the amazing time I was having with acting I chose to pursue writing for the entertainment industry as well. I debuted as a writer for the short film, “Photographic Memory” which stars Dominique Swain and Disney Channel’s, Mia Talerico.
I was able to overcome so much in my life, and in doing so I am here to support youths to overcome as well. As of today The BUHeroes Community is doing amazing, and is becoming an amazing source of inspiration for youths around the world. I am so proud of all the BUHeroes, and how they are inspiring youths to overcome and achieve.
The BUHeroes Community was created through inspiration to support, and is now becoming an amazing community to inspire youths around the world. I could not be anymore proud of the BUHeroes Community, and I could not be anymore thankful for all the support we are garnering.
The BUHeroes Community was something I created, however, the truth of the matter is, it is the BUHeroes who are making it a success. I am very proud of how my vision is now a reality.
I felt it was a benefit to share my story in a brief detail to help you understand the inspiration behind The BUHeroes Community, and why it is my main passion. I look back on my life and all my struggles, and I realize I am right where I need to be as I overcame all I needed to, this is my destiny, and I am so proud to have you all involved.
Thank you, genuinely.
Dave Matthew Boddy
“The BUHeroes Community strives to add value to youths around the world through unity, inspiration, and empowerment.”
