Do It For Dolly Day 2026: Shock phone call after years of relentless bullying in high school

Three months before their twelfth year graduation, Isabella’s best friend Jared died by suicide. Both were bullied mercilessly in high school.

‘We’re not 100 percent sure if it’s a direct relationship with bullyingbut it happened to him and a few of us too,” Isabella told nine.com.au.

“He was one of those shy, reserved kids, but once he got comfortable with you, he was very outgoing and a lot of fun.”

For Isabella, the bullying started in year 11. For Jared, it was “more or less the entire time” he was in high school.

“I’ve always had different interests,” Isabella said.

“I was that weird horse kid, always riding, I drove a ute, and I just got bullied for stuff like that.”

Isabella was able to manage with the help of her art teacher, who allowed her to stay in the art classrooms outside of class hours.

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It wasn’t until she chronicled the bullying in a story written for her Year 12 English class that the school intervened.

“I was in a pretty bad place mentally and my English teacher at the time said, ‘Oh God, this is big.’

“They took me aside and asked, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ and I just unfolded. From there it really just spiraled.

“I also ended up not going to school for a few months in year 11 just because I didn’t want to be there.”

The bullying occurred face-to-face and through messages, including from fake social media accounts

Isabella now can’t remember exactly what was said to her in the messages, but says they were along the lines of “a freak and a loser” and “weird.”

She and Jared never talked about their bullying experiences, but were aware of what was happening to the other

“When we lost Jared, I got a call from one of my other best friends in the morning while I was on the school bus,” she recalls.

“It was just really weird, like, ‘Holy sh-t, someone actually died from this stuff.'”

She remembers seeing the students who had bullied Jared at school that day, and Isabella was furious when some of them attended his funeral.

”That was very difficult to deal with. There is one boy in particular, I have never forgiven him.”

Years later, when she saw that same boy and felt the same anger she had on the day of Jared’s funeral, Isabella knew she needed help—and that she wanted to help others.

Isabella launched A Bark Above dog training. Having found comfort in her dog while being bullied and after losing Jared, she wanted others to find that same source of comfort.

She has worked with at least one family whose child was bullied at school and offered her support.

Isabella has also worked with a service dog company, helping veterans and Australians with mental illness.

The organization also suggested she have her dog assessed as a service dog, which has helped her through panic attacks and challenging times in public spaces.

Isabella has been too during this time raising money for Do It For Dolly Day.

Five years after Jared’s death, Dolly Everett died by suicide at the age of 14 after relentless bullying.

Her parents Tick and Kate Everett, with support from Dolly’s sister Meg, launched Dolly’s Dream, an organization dedicated to changing the culture of bullying in Australia.

The organization provides support to victims and their families, and gives workshops at schools.

Do It For Dolly Day falls on May 8, 2026. On this National Day of Action, Australians across the country are dressing up in blue as a sign of unity against bullying, and in memory of Dolly Everett.

Isabella and her service dog Fly were part of the official Do It For Dolly Day campaign in 2024. Isabella has now lost Fly, but cherishes the memories of them together.

This year she is walking 234 km to raise money for Dolly’s Dream and their important work.

“Eight years later, the love Australians have shown for Dolly and for our cause continues to move us,” said Dolly’s mother Kate ahead of Do It For Dolly Day 2026.

“This Friday we’re asking every Australian to go blue and help us reach $2 million for the first time ever.

“Every dollar goes directly to supporting the many thousands of children and families currently affected by bullying across Australia.

“We want them to know they are not alone, that support is available through our 13 DOLLY (13 36 55) bullying support line, web chat and the Dolly’s Dream website.

“Please donate if you can at doitfordollyday.org.au.”

If you or someone you know needs support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Dolly’s Dream on 13 36 55.