‘The pain of violence’, the book that gives voice to the silence of bullying

‘The pain of violence’ is already much more than a book. The 29 stories they collect are full of Cantabrian testimonies that break the silence in the face of abuse, bullying and cyberbullying. Its author, Lourdes Verdeja, founded in 2017 the Tolerance 0 to Bullying Cantabria and, in recent years, she has turned her personal experience into a collective mission: protect, guide and accompany families that suffer from this social scourge.

On the way, Verdeja does not want to leave those who discover that your child is the abuser alone. “We cannot look the other way because it is also very hard for them, although many want to deny reality with the mythical phrase of: ‘My son, no’”. This was reported this Friday in the Mauro Muriedas de Torrelavega room, the stage chosen to present what for her is more than a book. “I took it as a challenge in which I wanted to capture from the heart the essence of what I live on a day -to -day basis,” he told an excited audience.

‘The pain of violence’

“I was afraid that no one would come,” he said with nervous laugh – but it was enough to appear his nose down Pedro Alonso Revuelta to know that something important was happening there. The capacity overflowed with the number of people who wanted to accompany it on such a special day. Politicians, not many; Families and grateful people, what else.

Since one of his daughters was a victim of bullying when he was a girl, Verdeja proved first -hand that the system “did not work.” That experience prompted her to create the association she leads today and, since then, will be a cause that has made her a lighthouse for dozens of Cantabrian families. But the road has not been easy. He has had to endure phrases like “You are crazy”, “You just look for prominence” or “you are overprotecting your daughter.” Far from surrendering, he takes strength from weakness to those who attack him. “I always tell my daughters that the important thing is not the times you fall, but the times you get up.” In one of those Renacers he managed to raise the flight which AVE phoenix to take care of and break the abuse cycle.

“Nothing to lose”

Today Lourdes Verdeja is recognized as a “intense” woman, but also as someone who does not stop at indifference. “I have nothing to lose and much to win,” he repeats almost daily every time he has to call an institution to ask what is happening. Her daughters Itziar and Vega, the little Juncal – who lives with them as one more – and her husband, Ricardo, have become an army that gives the face when others do not want to do it or look the other way. And, how could it be otherwise, they wanted to be on the spot and read some letters in which the love, respect and admiration they feel towards her.

All funds that are collected with the sale of the book ‘The pain of violence’ will be intended entirely to help families that resort to the association seeking help. The afternoon of this Friday in Torrelavega has been a reflection of what Verdeja has sown: commitment, courage and a tireless struggle to give voice to those who need it most.