Where It All Began...

Stand By Me was started by two Bedford parents, Connie Roy-Czyzowski and Lisa Lynch, in 1989. After learning about the “Project Safeguard” program in Merrimack, they approached Mike Hague, a McKelvie counselor, about starting a similar anti-drug and alcohol program in Bedford. They formed a parent committee and planned the first event, naming it Stand By Me, for May 1990. The Stand By Me program they designed consists of a keynote speaker to kick off the day and then parents and students attending three self-selected workshops.

The last time we held Stand By Me was May 2019. Due to pandemic restrictions, we had a few years when we could not have the event. Our 2024 graduating senior class was the last Bedford student body to participate. In May 2023, we had a mini event for our 7th graders consisting of an assembly and a workshop creating vision boards. We are extremely excited to be bringing back the program in its full form May 2024!