GROVETON — It was a small group that gathered in the cold drizzle in Groveton on Sunday, but they were determined to take steps against the problem of bullying in schools.

Ten participants, ages 9 to 72, walked or ran in the first Groveton Walk, Run, Roll, a fundraiser for the new anti-bullying program at Groveton High School.

The program and the fundraiser were the brainchild of Northumberland police officer, Nessa Platt who started organizing both at the beginning of October.

“I just had an idea after working with a young girl who'd had a problem with bullying, so I tried to pull it together,” she said.

Platt said school officials deal with bullying complaints and then turn them over to the police department.

She held the first anti-bullying assembly Friday at Groveton Middle School, educating students on what constitutes bullying, bullying laws, and cyber-bullying.

“It's a big issue,” she said. “It can really hurt these children and we need to work together as a community to help.”

Platt's husband is Northumberland Police Chief Marcel Platt. “If you witness or deal with bullying, it's important to get involved,” he said.

The police department sponsored the Run, Walk, Roll and provided escorts as the group moved along Route 3. Local businesses Coos Pit Stop and Lancaster Dunkin Donuts provided food and drinks for the event.

Platt said the purpose behind Sunday's event was not just to raise money.

“The event is also a way to say 'I'm not going to stand for bullying. I'm going to take an active role against it,' ” she said.

Those who participated in Sunday's event said weather may have kept other registrants from coming. The “roll” part of the event referred to cyclists and wheelchair participants who couldn't make it, or chose to walk or run instead.

Saran Holden, 72, walked the three miles. She said she graduated from Groveton High School “many years ago.”

“I'm concerned about bullying at the school,” she said. “The police department and the school are really working on it. That's why I walked.”

Heather Felix and her family recently moved to Groveton from Pennsylvania. Her 13-year-old daughter Morgan is an eighth-grader and ran alongside Officer Platt in the event.

“She saw the ad in the paper and she said 'I want to run on Sunday,' ” Felix said. “She loves to run and this is a good reason.”

Mary Sawyer and her 9-year-old granddaughter Katie Woodworth also participated in the event, alternating walking and running. They plan to help out with next year's event and want to contribute ideas to make it bigger and better.

“We are strongly against bullying,” Sawyer said. “If this little bit helps, we're all for it.”

kgarofalo@newstote.com