The Council of Bens is raising mental health awareness with a rave atop Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak.
What started as a lighthearted movement to unite a bunch of people named Ben has begun to take on new meaning. Drum and bass lover Ben Bradley formed the Council of Bens at Boomtown Festival last year. He probably had no idea how big or meaningful the entity would become only a year later. The Council of Bens is in the middle of a fundraiser that will culminate on July 13 with a rave at the top of the highest peak in the UK, appropriately named Ben Nevis.
Ben’s Up Nevis is raising money for the mental health organization Mind and Bens Centre, the latter of which supports those with substance issues. Along with Bradley and the appropriately named mountain and charity, at least another 20 people named Ben are expected to make the climb. Several DJs are coming along and will collectively carry the gear needed for a proper rave at the summit. And if they have proper Internet service, the rave is also expected to be livestreamed.
“We understand not everyone has the money to spare and that’s absolutely fine, sharing the link or any of our posts surrounding this fundraiser are all great helps to the cause,” Bradley told DJ Mag. “Even sharing the pages of the charities after this fundraiser has been and gone could do a world of help for someone out there. We don’t plan on stopping these fundraisers anytime soon so keep up to date and keep sharing the love. Also make sure to look out for future activities that are not just Ben specific — benlieve me they’re coming.”
The electronic music scene certainly has its fair share of charitable events, even ones focused on mental health. Yet the confluence of Ben names surrounding this effort is truly astounding, especially when you consider that the Council of Bens really started as a “silly group chat full of ravers.” Despite making this recent move into charitable events, the group chat remains lighthearted and silly. By way of example, the chat has 30+ subgroups with names like “The BENchers” (fitness focused) and “Builder Bens.”
In keeping with their tongue-in-cheek origins, the Bens refer to mental health as Bental health. Joking aside, Bental health is a core part of the group ethos and something they take very seriously. “Bental Health will be a team which will work daily on breaking down the stigmas of mental health in a contemporary manner, that challenges the outdated views we struggle so much to outgrow as a society,” said Bradley.
Do you want to help support good Bental health? You can support Ben’s Up Nevis via GoFundMe and also enter the raffle for a Boomtown ticket via their website.
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