Coronavirus Puts Brakes On Bozemans' Anti-Bullying RV Tour

Baltimore Ravens left guard Bradley Bozeman has stopped many a pass rusher. His offseason tour, in which he and his wife have been talking to students about bullying, could not stop COVID-19.

Bozeman and his wife, Nikki Bozeman, hit the road Feb. 7 in a donated recreational vehicle to begin a cross-country trip to speak to kids about being bullied.

"I go through my story of being a fat, chubby kid that looked like Augustus Gloop from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and having the dream of playing at the University of Alabama and then moving on to the pros. I go through that and tell them about my trials and tribulations," Bradley Bozeman said.

The national tour was cut short last week as the Bozemans had to cancel the last six school visits due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"We kind of felt like it was best for our safety and the safety of the kids and the teachers that we cancelled the rest of this tour and then reevaluate when this is all over," Nikki Bozeman said.

The Bozemans spoke to about 10,000 kids in 12 schools in February and March and then recorded an emotional message on the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation Facebook page.

"What really got to me was these schools, administrations, and students don't know us from Adam," Bradley Bozeman said. "They don't know where we're from. They don't know who we are, but they opened up their doors and opened up arms."

The Bozemans worried that opening of arms and doors could end due to the coronavirus.

"Me and Nikki had been thinking about it and seeing what was happening with the schools starting to close and the state of the union and all that," Bradley Bozeman said.

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The precautions due to COVID-19 became a teachable moment for the Bozemans and the kids they hoped to talk to.

"Things happen, and that's a big part of mine and Nikki's message. In life, you can't control what happens in every situation. You have to make the best of the things you can control," Bradley Bozeman said.

"Putting it in perspective, there's so many other people who are going through a lot and having to deal with much worse than just having to reschedule a tour, whether it's college athletes ending their senior seasons early," Nikki Bozeman said. "There's people who are out of jobs for a certain amount of time."

Bradley and Nikki Bozeman say despite this setback due to the coronavirus they're looking to the future with about 10 local school visits planned.

"Hopefully this thing will clear up," Bradley Bozeman said. "Schools will be back in session, we'll get to go out in the community again, talk to the schools and get our message out there more."

"We definitely won't be able to do it this year, but we've kind of talked to the schools and coordinated with the schools," Nikki Bozeman said. "It might be a possibility in the upcoming year."

It's an emotional ending to a national tour with an important message not derailed by the coronavirus but put on hold while the Bozemans and the rest of the country buckle down and hope for the best.