The event was a fundraiser for Proud To Be Me, which will use the money to install friendship benches in school and develop anti-bullying workshops, according to Cindy Cutts.

Erik and Melinda Karlsson held their first anti-bullying event, called the 'Walk of Light,' at the Kanata Recreation Complex on Sunday evening. Drew May/ OttawaMatters.com

1 / 1 Erik and Melinda Karlsson held their first anti-bullying event, called the 'Walk of Light,' at the Kanata Recreation Complex on Sunday evening. Drew May/ OttawaMatters.com

Melinda and Erik Karlsson held the first event for their anti-bullying organization, Can’t Dim My Light, with a Sunday evening walk through Kanata along with hundreds of supporters.

The walk was to help raise money for Proud To Be Me, another anti-bullying charity in Ottawa that aims to improve youth programs and services in the community.

Cindy Cutts, executive director of Proud To Be Me, said the goal was to raise $50,000 through the event, which would be put towards friendship benches and anti-bullying workshops in schools. Cutts said the aim is to install 40 benches in elementary schools around Ottawa, while the workshops will be geared towards high school students.

“[The workshops are] something that will bring the youth together and give them tools to combat bullying, some useful stuff for them in today’s world,” Cutts said.

She said one of the issues Proud To Be Me is especially focused on is children dealing with cyberbullying.

“It’s on their devices, it’s their whole world,” she said. “If we can help give them some hope and some guidance to help de-stress and deal with these scenarios, to me that feels like a win.”

Cutts commended the Karlssons for using their status to highlight the issue of bullying and said she thinks having Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson involved with help give youth a voice.

“With Can’t Dim My Light, it has elevated our (Proud To Be Me) following and our awareness, and it just helped more people learn about us and our resources,” she said.

The Karlssons themselves allege they have been victims of cyberbullying after online harassment over the death of their unborn child. Erik Karlsson said bullying is an issue the couple thinks is very important and “hold dear.”

“Thousands of kids and teenagers deal with this on a daily basis and most of them don’t have the support to deal with it, and that is something I would like to help change,” he said.

Melinda Karlsson said they named the organization ‘Can’t Dim My Light’ after the light they saw in Jonathan Pitre, the 17-year-old who died earlier this year after being dubbed the ‘butterfly boy' for his rare skin condition.

"Growing up is hard enough and as adults life is hard enough," she said. "Learning to explore, find, accept and love yourself is hard enough without other people making it even harder, without being labelled, called names, abused put in a box or judged."

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Allan Hubley, city councillor for Kanata South, also spoke before the walk. Hubley’s own son died by suicide in 2011 and said he and his wife are constantly looking for opportunities to help with the cause of youth mental health and bullying.

“We only want to try and save one (life) with an initiative and if we can do it then we think it’s a success,” he said. “What the Karlssons are doing with this project here, you’re going to save a lot of lives.”

Cutts said Proud To Be Me will continue to be involved with the Karlssons' organization and the Walk of Light is something they’re committed to doing annually.