Circus Act Entertains Students, Gives Anti-Bullying Speech

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus presents: "Circus Xtreme." As in "x-citing" acts, "x-hillerating" aerial performances and "BM-X" bicycles.

The newest addition to the circus tradition showed off the acrobatic "x-pilots" of daring young men on the flying bikes. They entertained kids from Urban Pathways Charter School.

Ringmaster David Shipman addressed the students with an anti-bullying message.

"I think it speaks volumes to people who maybe are going through it right now, who are suffering in silence, that it gets better, as long as you have the tenacity and courage to get through it."

Kids really look up to the bikers, who are able to do tricks they can't imagine doing themselves. But even the BMX riders endured bullying at one time or another. And that had a big effect on their young audience.

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BMX troupe leader Koji Kraft says he was mocked, and told repeatedly he'd never make it as a professional rider.

"Everybody was just against what I did. And they always said, When are you going to get a real job? When are you going to do something normal, or a profession? I was always told by the right teachers, you always do what you love and put passion in your work."

Urban Pathways spokesperson Janine Macklin says the message had an effect on the students.

"You experience bullying every day, and it's so important to have adults talk about their experiences and share their experiences of how they overcame a situation."