Latest news with #BenRaemersFoundation
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Man skateboards from Brighton to Africa in 55 days
A 21-year-old man has skateboarded from Brighton to Africa in 55 Allison skated some 1,500 miles (2,415km) to Tangier in Morocco - taking a downhill tumble and getting all his possessions stolen along the he kept going to raise awareness of mental health and has so far made more than £5,000 for the Ben Raemers Foundation, a charity supporting wellbeing in the skateboarding community."I had my own challenges with mental health," said Mr Allison. "The skate scene is very tight-knit, it's very community driven, so having a service like that within the community is amazing." It was a gruelling physical challenge, which Mr Allison told BBC Radio Sussex meant he would need to cover between 30 and 55 miles every day."It was definitely harder at first. But my body kinda got used to it pretty quick and it just felt like the norm because I would wake up and I just knew what I had to do every day," he on a skateboard on flat pavements is one thing - but Mr Allison's route got a little bumpy at times."Going up was definitely harder - but downwards is a saving grace because I could save all my energy going downhill, I wouldn't have to push and it was super fun, the adrenalin [was] running," he said."But I did have a bit of a tumble going down one of the hills, my arm got a bit scraped up."All in all I think I've done pretty well - I only fell the one time during the whole trip, so I'm proud of that."After setting his fundraising target at only £100, Mr Allison was amazed as the donations started rolling in."On the last day I cracked over £5,000, which was crazy. It just sort of went mad," he the money will be going to charity, while Mr Allison will no doubt need to invest in a new pair of wheels for his skateboard."I did the one pair of wheels - I will say they're absolutely haggard," he laughed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Skateboarder hopes to tackle stigma around sport
A skateboarding coach said he hoped a two-day festival would help break down any stigma around the sport being "rough". The Two-Toed Skateboards event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday at Woodbridge Skatepark, Suffolk, included skateboarding lessons, live music and skating competitions. Advertisement The money raised throughout the weekend went towards Skatepark Respect and the Ben Raemers Foundation, a charity that ensures the skateboarding community has the resources to help people struggling with their mental health. Lewis Anderson, the founder of Two-Toed Skateboards, said: "I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard." Mr Anderson founded Two-Toed Skateboards in 2017, after he qualified as a professional skateboarding coach. He said each year he tries to make the event bigger and better. "I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard. It is rooted in the culture of art, in skateboard design, in graffiti, in music, in skate culture - so a skate festival just makes sense to me. Advertisement "I want to break down that stigma that skateboarding has... we're not rough, we are a community." Joe Bourne started skateboarding when he was about 13 and says it acts as an escapism [Angelle Joseph/BBC] Joe Bourne attended the event, which was held in collaboration with Woodbridge Town Council, and has been skateboarding since he was 13. He said: "It's the one thing that keeps me pushing really... it kept me out of a lot of trouble. It kept me sane at times, as my little escape from reality." He hoped the Woodbridge skate scene could be kept alive by the younger generation. "It's nice that it's still here. It used to be a bit bigger so it's a shame that it's dying out. It's good to see a lot of younger generations picking it up," he said. The event also hoped to give people the opportunity to have their say on how they would like to see the skatepark improved [Angelle Joseph/BBC] When attendees were asked what improvements could be made to the skatepark, their answers included more skating events, a graffiti wall and repairs. Advertisement Mr Anderson hopes with repairs and improvements, the skatepark will become a place where skaters can "feel a sense of ownership". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on skateboarding Related internet links
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Suffolk skateboarder hopes to tackle 'rough' stigma around sport
A skateboarding coach said he hoped a two-day festival would help break down any stigma around the sport being "rough". The Two-Toed Skateboards event, which took place on Saturday and Sunday at Woodbridge Skatepark, Suffolk, included skateboarding lessons, live music and skating competitions. The money raised throughout the weekend went towards Skatepark Respect and the Ben Raemers Foundation, a charity that ensures the skateboarding community has the resources to help people struggling with their mental health. Lewis Anderson, the founder of Two-Toed Skateboards, said: "I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard." Mr Anderson founded Two-Toed Skateboards in 2017, after he qualified as a professional skateboarding coach. He said each year he tries to make the event bigger and better. "I wanted to bring everyone together and show skating is more than just people on a skateboard. It is rooted in the culture of art, in skateboard design, in graffiti, in music, in skate culture - so a skate festival just makes sense to me."I want to break down that stigma that skateboarding has... we're not rough, we are a community." Joe Bourne attended the event, which was held in collaboration with Woodbridge Town Council, and has been skateboarding since he was 13. He said: "It's the one thing that keeps me pushing really... it kept me out of a lot of trouble. It kept me sane at times, as my little escape from reality." He hoped the Woodbridge skate scene could be kept alive by the younger generation. "It's nice that it's still here. It used to be a bit bigger so it's a shame that it's dying out. It's good to see a lot of younger generations picking it up," he said. When attendees were asked what improvements could be made to the skatepark, their answers included more skating events, a graffiti wall and repairs. Mr Anderson hopes with repairs and improvements, the skatepark will become a place where skaters can "feel a sense of ownership". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Ya Biladi
30-05-2025
- 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
30-05-2025
- 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.
