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Martin Richard's Parents Invite Kids, Families To Promote Peace

BOSTON (CBS) – Martin Richard's parents announced a new initiative Monday inviting kids and families to promote peace through acts of kindness and service projects.

The "Martin Richard Bridge Builder Campaign" will run through October 16 with the hashtag #NoMoreHurtingPeople.

Eight-year-old Martin was the youngest victim killed in the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013.

Martin Richard
Martin Richard. (Photo credit: Richard family-Facebook)

After his death, a photo of him with a poster saying 'No More Hurting People, Peace' went viral.

"We heard stories from children of all ages who were inspired by Martin to act in ways that helped others … some friends, some classmates and some strangers. No more hurting people, peace," Martin's parents, Bill and Denise Richard, wrote in Time Magazine Monday, announcing their initiative.

Here is an excerpt of their essay:

Our family founded The Martin Richard Foundation to amplify those small actions, to honor our son's message of peace, and to make the world a better place. But we can't do it alone. That is why we have joined with generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, and Hasbro, Inc. to create the Martin Richard Bridge Builder campaign to empower youth to make positive change through service. Our goal is to give kids a chance to learn about ways they can make a difference and share their stories to inspire others to do the same.

Whether it's doing a volunteer project like planting a peace garden at a local school, creating a peace poster or simply inviting someone new to sit at your school lunch table, there are many easy ways to get involved and help change the world.

We invite all kids, teens and families to join us in our movement to magnify this message by sharing your own acts of kindness using #NoMoreHurtingPeople or by visiting generationOn.org/peace.

The initiative is open to children and teens ages 5-to-18.

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