More joy for internet-hit George who beat bullies

AN autistic teenager who was relentlessly bullied is now settling into school thanks - in part - to the extraordinary kindness of people in Wythenshawe.

George Makris, 13, who has Asperger’s, was picked on by school bullies for two years to the point where ‘it was too much.’

The M.E.N. had reported on how the teenager’s mum appealed for strangers to help in a bid to put a smile back on his face.

The extraordinary response saw George deluged with birthday cards from people around the world touched by his plight.

And after featuring in our paper and in articles and TV shows across the globe, George and his family have been getting on with life. But the kindness has continued.

George started at a new secondary school in September, where he is now making brilliant progress thanks to the backing of understanding teachers.

She has praised people, particularly local folk in Wythenshawe, for turning around the way that George feels about himself.

The family’s story chimes with the goals of our #WeStandTogether campaign, which is calling for peace studies to feature in the school curriculum but also aims to celebrate extraordinary examples of kindness.

Mum Amanda says teachers at George’s new school have called him a ‘wonderful young man.’

Classical music-loving George, who taught himself to play the piano, had been bullied to the point of feeling suicidal and his family say he had been physically assaulted.

With George’s birthday approaching in August, Amanda wanted to do something special to give George his confidence back.

“He doesn’t get many birthday cards so every year I send him individual ones from me, his dad, his brother, the cat, the dog, anyone,” explains Amanda.

“I wanted to do something to cheer him up so I put something on Facebook asking people to send him a birthday card. If he had a few more cards it would make him feel good again.”

What Amanda didn’t expect was for her post to spark hundreds of shares and messages of support.

Within a day, Amanda was inundated with offers from people around Wythenshawe to help throw George a birthday party.

And when his birthday arrived he received around 350 cards from strangers.

“When the postman arrived he brought this huge stack of cards,” says Amanda. “It really did go global. I was getting messages from Hong Kong and even Hawaii.

“We were offered a bouncy castle and a load of bikers wanted to wish him a happy birthday.

“All of our neighbours were brilliant too. They helped us arrange a party on the green in secret. When the bikers arrived we told him what was going on and he just ran out. He couldn’t believe it. It really was amazing.”

Amanda, from Bench Hill, says the response gave George the boost he needed ahead of a fresh start at a new high school.

She had originally posted on Facebook about the effect bullies were having on her son’s mental health. He had been bullied on and off for two years.

The last straw was when her son was allegedly attacked in a classroom which left him with a sling, an image of which Amanda shared on Facebook.

“At first it was just name calling,” explains Amanda. “George has Asperger’s so he has his own likes and obsessions.

“He’s very bright and can remember everything he’s taught at school. He doesn’t have to revise, he just knows it. Maybe some of the other kids were jealous. He was getting picked on at break time so he was put in an area called the ‘inclusive room,’ but it was the opposite.

“He was excluded and alone. It wasn’t long until the bullies found out where he was.

“Every morning he went into school with his head down. It just broke my heart.

“He lost all of his sparkle. He wouldn’t really talk about it and then one day he broke down at the Trafford Centre. He poured his heart out to me. He said ‘it’s all too much for me’ and said he was afraid to go back into school.

“As a mum hearing your child say that, it breaks your heart. But then you’re angry and determined to make it better.”

George confessed he had been having nightmares and had thoughts about taking his own life. He was referred to a child psychologist.

Amanda says the response to her appeal has given George the boost he needed before a new start at Sale High School.