Strength for Everyday Heroes – Törrö’s School Tour

Mika Törrö, six-time champion of the Strongest Man competition in Finland, has become something of a household name due to his success in competitions. However, more and more people also know him as a speaker who encourages young people and adults to intervene in bullying. Törrö mostly visits secondary schools, but last spring he appeared as Ahola Transport’s representative to primary school pupils, congratulating them on receiving the Strong Don’t Bully stipend.

 

 

Meeting young people

 

For Törrö, it’s important that school visits go beyond a lecture: he aims to have authentic interactions with young people through sharing ideas, taking photos, and creating lasting moments.

 

– My hope is that young people will come and talk to me, even though it can be difficult to talk about sensitive issues in a big group. Even a sentence or brief meeting can change the course of your life, says Törrö.

 

He points out that meaningful encounters can come from small things: from someone simply meeting your eyes, listening to you, or giving you encouragement.

 

 

Stipends send a message of caring

 

A total of 70 The Strong Don’t Bully stipends were distributed to schools in Kokkola and Naantali to mark the 70th anniversary of Ahola. Each scholarship includes a personal message and Törrö’s signature, making the support tangible and personal.

 

– I think it’s great that Ahola got involved in this and wanted to award these stipends. It’s an important gesture that will hopefully make an impact, adds Törrö.

 

Above all, the stipends communicate that everyone matters, and that strength comes in many forms.

 

 

A message that carries

 

Törrö’s own life story brings depth to the power of the message. He has experienced both being bullied as well as being the bully, and these experiences have left long-lasting scars. Now he wants to highlight the need for help and support for both the bullied and the bullies.

 

– The root causes of bullying must be addressed thoroughly. Punishing the bully alone is not enough. It’s important to understand the underlying reasons for their behavior and to give both parties a chance to start afresh, Törrö emphasizes.

 

According to Törrö, when businesses get involved, the message gains strength: together we can trigger a ripple effect that motivates others to act.

 

 

Everyday heroes

 

The message of the tour is simple: true strength lies in everyday heroism. It’s about standing up for others, kind words, and the courage to seek help. Törrö’s advice to young people boils down to this:

 

– Listen to your heart, find the things you’re good at, and remember that you can always ask for help and that you don’t have to do everything alone.

 

Together, Ahola Transport and Mika Törrö take the message forward: the strong don’t bully, but make the world a better place, one encounter at a time.