Latest news with #BenRaemersFoundation
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
British Skater's 2,414 km journey from Brighton to Tangier for mental health awareness
21-year-old British national Sam Allison has embarked on an extraordinary journey to skateboard 2,414 kilometers from Brighton, England, to Tangier, Morocco. His goal is to raise funds for the Ben Raemers Foundation, which supports mental health within the skateboarding community. Allison told the BBC that he felt compelled to support the charity after skateboarding helped him cope with his own mental health struggles. «I did not realize how much it could impact your life until my own negative experience», he said. «Ever since then, I have had it in the back of my mind to raise awareness for mental health [in the skating community]». Allison, who is already experiencing foot pain, plans to skate roughly 48.2 kilometers a day for 55 days. He's carrying all his essentials in a large backpack—including clothes, cooking gear, a sleeping bag, a tent, and spare skateboard wheels. His friend Lucas Perrin will accompany him by bicycle for parts of the journey, helping to keep his spirits up, ensure he stays hydrated, and make sure he doesn't get lost. Allison said that since announcing the challenge, people have started reaching out to him in support. He set off last Wednesday from Brighton toward Newhaven, where he planned to take a ferry to France, joined by a group of fellow skaters.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Skateboarder riding from Brighton to Morocco for charity has all his belongings stolen
A man who is skateboarding from Brighton to Africa for charity was had to bring his adventure to an end when all his possessions were stolen – including his passport. Sam Allison, who is taking on the challenge of skateboarding 1,500 miles (1,400km) from Brighton to Tangier in Morocco, said his belongings were stolen while camping in France. The 21-year-old from East Sussex said he felt 'defeated' when he realised everything he had had been taken, apart from his phone and wallet. But he refused to let the theft of his possessions stop him from continuing his 55-day journey. Instead, he took a detour to Bordeaux in France to get an emergency travel document and buy a new bag, tent, torch, clothes and a sleeping bag. "It is what it is. Life happens. There is nothing I can do about it," he said in a video posted on Instagram. "It's just sad. I am trying to do a good thing and I have had that taken from me." However, there was one advantage: without his bulky rucksack he found skating much easier and joked that he was 'kind of grateful'. Some of the stolen items did have sentimental value to Mr Allison, who explained the T-shirt he was wearing when he set off was stolen and that he would struggle to afford to replace a lot of the items. Mr Allison is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Ben Raemers foundation, a mental health charity which was set up in memory of the professional skateboarder who died age 28 by suicide in May 2019. 'I have seen and experienced what poor mental health can do for myself, friends and family and it can get dark feeling like there is no way out. So, I'm thankful for the foundation making the whole skate community and beyond more open to discussion of mental health as it's so important,' Mr Allison wrote on a gofundme page for the trip which has raised more than £3,700. He added: 'They are also giving accessibility to skaters within the industry to focus on improving mental health and easier access to services for mental health which is truly incredible as it can feel like an uncertainty of where to turn for help in hard times.' Mr Allison is now halfway through his skateboarding journey to Morocco, which will see him travel from Brighton through France and Spain and down to North Africa. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Danny Cram Foundation set up in memory of Jersey skater
Almost £13,000 has been donated to set up a foundation to help young adults with their mental health in memory of a Jersey Cram was 25 when he took his own life in December after struggles with his mental and family have set up the Danny Cram Foundation to provide more support in the island for young adults and their of his friends said "everyone loves him" and "his personality was unmatched" with his mum Louise Cram adding he was "a kind and courageous soul". Eddie da Rocha was a close friend of Danny's and helped set up the said Danny "was the most unique character, very outgoing" and "Danny liked helping others more than himself".Mr da Rocha added: "Danny will be the type of boy who will just sit there and listen to you and he would just let you talk and I'm sure he would be really proud of what we're doing."He also said "you just realise that Jersey doesn't have the tools required to help young adults with mental health problems" and "I think it's a bigger issue that we think". Need help? If you have been affected by this story the BBC Action Line web page features a list of organisations which are ready to provide support and advice. Jersey's government said it expected to publish the island's Suicide Prevention Strategy by the end of the first quarter of the latest figures from the Mental Health Profile found between 2018-2020 there were the age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) for suicide in Jersey of 9.3 deaths per 100,000 rate in England over the same period of time was 10.4 per 100, of all suicides in Jersey involved men (72%).The next Mental Health Profile is due to be published at the end of April and there is a list of support services available for those in need. The governing body of skateboarding in Jersey, Skateboard Jersey (SJ), paid tribute to Danny and said they were working to better support Minty, from the SJ, said "at first there was an overwhelming sense of grief" as Danny's death had "a serious impact" on the skating added: "I hope the need for change is now recognised and it's dealt with appropriately."SJ is working with the Ben Raemers Foundation, which is a UK charity that was set up following the suicide of professional skater Ben Raemers in 2019. 'Tragic loss' Susie Crome is one of the co-founders of the Ben Raemers Foundation and is planning to come to Jersey to help the local skating said they would teach first aid suicide training and "give an to introduction to understanding suicide and how to have conversations around suicide"."It's about recognising what support systems people have already got and how we can build on those but also it's devastating that it had to come from a tragic loss," Ms Crome foundation aims to help the skateboarding community develop the skills needed to support each other to understand and address mental health.
