The Ben Raemers Foundation - Discussing Alcohol with Lucy Raemers, Alex Irvine and Dave Noble
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2020
- The Ben Raemers Foundation sits down with Lucy Raemers, Skateboard photographer Alex Irvine and recovery coach and mentor, Dave Noble to discuss alcohol addiction and recovery.
If you would like to find out more about alcohol visit www.alcoholchange.org.uk
Checkout Alex's photography here: www.alexirvine.co.uk/about
Visit Dave Noble here: davenoblecreative.com/
Ben will never be forgotten and always loved. He’s still such a part of the community and our hearts and I for one will miss that cheeky chappy till I die. His boards will always hang proud on the walls of my home. This message needs to be heard. Big love to all ♥️♥️
Good to hear you guys. Great to see your in recovery Alex. Well done on your 2 years sober. I’m happy these conversations are being had in skateboarding circles as part of Ben’s legacy. I miss Ben and would give anything to have a chat with him.
Alcoholism is a disease. A disease of denial to those afflicted. Accelerated and glorified by British and skateboarding culture as a “norm”.
It’s cunning, baffling and powerful. Truly awful. Leads to jails, institutions and death unfortunately if complete abstinence cannot be found and maintained for the sufferer. Painful for those close to alcoholism and family members too. I admire your work Lucy and strength.
There is a solution through rigorous honesty, acceptance and reaching out to 12 step recovery if your suffering. Alcoholism creeps up and does not discriminate who it affects. It’s progressive and fatal if it isn’t understood or acknowledged. Without help recovery is seldom possible.
It’s not a moral issue either or a matter of choice. Alex describes how he became powerless over alcohol so well.
Alex and Lucy I completely relate to the description of the skateboarding lifestyle. Skateboarding saved me from a boring life in a northern town but was later a toxic environment to be in with no real healthy mentorship going on. I was in the exact same circle as Ben for a few years.
My name is Olly and I grew up skateboarding with Ben. I went on the “RAD” trip to Australia and to The Baltic’s trip a year later which was aired on channel 5 kids TV with Ben when I was 16 and 17. Ben must have been 15/16. Ben and I flew out to California together around the same time when we were both riding for Consolidated as kids. I got my GCSE results on the phone whilst staying at Ben’s house in Walton. We Spent time at Munson’s house together skating in Ipswich too. Years later in 2014 we met up randomly in Australia whilst Ben was on a Volcom trip which was amazing. I deeply regret us loosing contact over the years and feel like I may have been able to help him which pains me to this day.
I never knew how much Ben was suffering and I feel our lives went on a similar path in terms of addiction and mental health issues in our early to mid twenties. We never knew either of us were suffering either.
I have been sober in recovery for a number of years now. As soon as I left the skateboarding industry, I got sober with a ton of support and went through a huge healing process in 12 step fellowship. I’m now happily married and working with young people in my professional life and spend time helping others in recovery and attending fellowship meetings still all these years later. It does pain me to have never had a conversation with Ben about recovery to this day.
I feel all I needed to see was that someone like me could get sober and stay sober. Rather than having to want to get well. I always wanted to get well but never could see how.
I’d like to contribute somehow to the Ben Reamers foundation as a ex skateboarder in recovery. For Ben’s legacy.
For those suffering, there is a solution. Don’t try and outthink a thinking problem. Action is required and to ask for help. Get to a 12 step meeting. There’s no stigma attached to healing and getting well. Some of the most successful people on earth are in recovery.
Life in recovery is great, it’s has to be lived to be understood.
Olly x
Keeping Ben in my prayers. X
Thank you for sharing all of this. Such a touching way to honor Ben’s memory 😇
Great talk
Doing good work. Ben would be proud x
Also Ben as a Pro skater is one of my favourites! May he be at Peace ❤️ One love
Giving up booze best thing ive done, it does not fix everything but its sure makes life more manageable
Hey, I grew up across the road from you guys. I moved away but just heard the sad news. Used to play on the green as kids sometimes. I didn't know Ben really but I'm so sorry for your loss.
I didn't even know he was a famous skater. I always thought you were a really nice perfect family.
My parents had addictions too and I was a weird kid and few years older than you.
Peace and love Lucy to you and all your family
I don't give a fuck about much but somehow this matters to me.