On Thursday, Buzz and Woody from Toy Story 3 on ice will join forces with 125 students via the Greater Long Beach YMCA for a “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” anti-bullying rally and friendship forum. The free event is open to the public.

Starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Lakewood YMCA, the anti-bullying rally will feature stars of Disney On Ice now being presented through Sunday in downtown Long Beach. The show is officially called Disney on Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3. The Lakewood YMCA is located at 5835 East Carson Street.

The participating students are enrolled in the YMCA’s after-school enrichment program, which is finishing a week of learning about the value of respect, consideration and kindness.

The “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” forum will welcome more than 125 kids from Greater Long Beach branches, including Los Altos, Lakewood, and Fairchild, where stories of being bullied will be shared and the message conveyed that “friendship comes first.”

During the event, three YMCA children will read winning essays that they composed on their experiences with bullying. The forum will feature anti-bullying artwork, and--with the help of Toy Story 3 characters Buzz and Woody-everyone will take an oath promising to say “STOP” and take a “STAND” when they see others or themselves getting bullied.

The “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” rally is part of a a weekend-long celebration of Disney On Ice, being performed at the Long Beach Convention Center and Arena through Jan. 8.