Ray’s 24-Hour Walk for Kindness

Walking for Kindness. Walking for Knox.

There are individuals you come across in life that change everything.  Knox was such a person to Dara and the Bayat family.  

To honor him, I have decided to participate in the 24 Hour Extreme challenge to raise $50,000 for the Live Like Knox foundation.  Walking 24 hours to test the human spirit.  To do something hard so that I create ease for others.  I want to be part of spreading kindness.  Lots of kids get recognized for their academic and athletic accomplishments.  No one gets rewarded for kindness. I want to change that.  

Live Like Knox rewards those high school students who are good souls, genuinely interested in leading with kindness every day, and having an impact as Knox did.  Please help me raise $50,000 through this 24 Hour challenge, which would forever change five students’ lives with much needed scholarships funds to advance their studies.  

Let’s all LIVE LIKE KNOX.

Ray and the 2025 24 Hour Extreme Challenge Walk teamRay Bayat: Husband | Front Row Dad to Dara & Dorina | Son | Brother

Knox, Dara and HarrisonRay and the 2025 24 Hour Extreme Challenge Walk team

One Walk. One Day. A Lifetime of Kindness.

On April 17, 2026, Ray Bayat will begin a 24-hour walk—starting at 8:00 AM and ending at 8:00 AM the following morning.

No shortcuts.
No sleep.
Just one foot in front of the other—for kindness.

This walk isn’t about endurance for endurance’s sake.
It’s about honoring a boy whose life quietly taught everyone around him how to live.

The Boy Who Taught Us How to Be Kind

What if the truest lessons in life didn’t come from philosophers or elders—but from a 12-year-old boy?

Knox Dydalewicz was that teacher.

Knox lived with an ease that most of us spend our entire lives trying to find. He was inclusive. Empathetic. Joyful. Always smiling. He had a way of making people feel seen—especially those who didn’t naturally seek the spotlight.

Knox was my son Dara’s friend. And in many ways, he changed Dara’s life.

Dara is thoughtful and reserved. Not the loud kid in the hallway. But Knox pulled him into conversations. Into laughter. Into belonging. Because that’s who Knox was—someone who made room for everyone.

As a parent, I watched my son flourish simply because someone chose kindness.

And as an adult, I found myself wanting to be around Knox, too. His energy lifted you. He looked you in the eye. He asked how you were. He smiled—every time.

One night stands out above all others. I took Knox, Dara, and Harrison (Dara’s best friend from soccer) to Chipotle and then to a Legends game. The boys insisted on sitting away from me. From a distance, I watched Knox lead the laughter. The joy was unmistakable.

In that moment, I silently thanked God for Knox—because every parent hopes their child feels that safe, that happy, that included.

Carrying the Lesson Forward

Knox’s passing devastated our family. It felt impossible to understand.

But the lesson he left behind is simple—and absolute:

Kindness isn’t optional. It’s the way.

Knox showed us that influence doesn’t come from volume or status. It comes from how you treat people when no one is watching.

We believe Knox was sent to remind us of that truth. And now, it’s our responsibility to carry it forward.

“It Will Be Okay, Mr. Ray.”

On December 6, 2024, Knox came to me in a dream.

I saw a young boy standing in the dark with his back to me – filled with anxiety, fear, and worry.  I felt that it was my 8-year-old self.  

As I watched the boy turn toward me, light fell across his face. It was actually Knox and not me.  

Knox looked me in the eye, smiling, and gently said: “It will be okay, Mr. Ray.”  

That moment changed me. 

Why a 24-Hour Walk?

To honor Knox, I chose to do something hard—so that others might have it a little easier.

This 24-hour walk is a test of the human spirit. A reminder that discomfort can create hope. That effort can turn into opportunity.

I am walking to raise $50,000 for the Live Like Knox Foundation, which exists to recognize something rarely rewarded:

Kindness.

While many scholarships celebrate academics and athletics, Live Like Knox honors high school students who lead with empathy, inclusion, and heart—students who live the way Knox did.

This walk will help fund five life-changing scholarships, opening doors for students who choose kindness every day.