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Bullying devastates lives. During the week, Beat Bullying will be hosting an online march heading for 10 Downing Street, where marchers will hand over a petition to a virtual David Cameron asking Government for help to protect children from bullying, violence and harassment.

To mark the launch of Anti-Bullying Week 2010 on Monday, 15 November, The Big March will see tens of thousands of avatars of children, parents, teachers and celebrities march across computer screens via over thirty charities’ and organisations’ websites to take a stand against bullying.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu will heading the Big March. He said of the campaign, "Recent Beatbullying statistics show that more than 50% of young people don't feel safe at school, with 17% saying they would consider carrying a weapon to protect themselves.These figures are just too high. Children must be protected from all harm. School is a place of learning, a place parents send their children, a place that should be free from fear but still, in today's society, children are being harassed and abused by their peers. It is unacceptable. It is so important that adults and children sign up to support Beatbullying's Big March and ask for more to be done. It is such an innovative campaign that really has captured the nation's heart and I hope that people will stand up and take notice. Over 80% of young people think that bullying should be a crime, it certainly affects them severely, and so it is time for the world to think about new and improved ways to protect the future generations of tomorrow".

A campaign website, The Big March Park, is open from 15 September and is packed with interactive content areas, virtual tents pitched by charities such as Hansard Society and Action For Children, and companies like Google and Facebook, where children, parents and teachers alike can engage with a variety of educational and fun activities promoting children’s wellbeing. Activities cover themes like e-safety, bullying prevention, how to get involved in campaigning, and with lesson plans and a parents’ area, it offers something to parents, teachers and kids alike.

Beatbullying is also encouraging the Government to set up a Big March Bullying Commission to investigate how Government, schools, families and communities can reduce incidents of bullying and give children a life free from violence and harassment.

Celebrities and opinion formers as diverse as Beatbullying ambassador Aston Merrygold, Freddie Flintoff, Sir Michael Parkinson, CyberMentors’ President, Professor Tanya Byron, Children’s Commissioner Maggie Atkinson and top girl band The Saturdays have joined the petition to end bullying.

You can join The Big March by becoming a fan on Facebook, following on Twitter (#bigmarch), wearing your Beatbullying Big March Sillybandz with pride or by visiting the Big March Park at www.beatbullying.org/bigmarch. It doesn’t matter how you do it - it's your support that counts.