After losing two friends to suicide, Ben Drew turns car into mental health lifeline

After losing two friends to suicide, Ben Drew decided silence was no longer an option. Instead of a speech or a fundraiser, he chose something simpler and more visible; his car.

In April 2025, Drew transformed his Kia Ceed into a bright green “mobile billboard,” covered in symbols and messages promoting mental health services and urging men to speak up. The car now carries tributes to his late friends and a wider message for what he calls “all the brothers we’ve lost.”

“I just wanted to do something to stop the suicide rate going up,” Drew said.

Turning Grief Into a Health Awareness Campaign

The idea came suddenly, he said, but its impact has been steady. Drivers and pedestrians stop him. Some say thank you. Others leave bracelets on the car. Many share their own struggles.

“You would be surprised how many people thank me,” he said. “The more the car is seen, the more people are reaching out.”

That visibility matters. Campaigns tied to community outreach initiatives often struggle to cut through the noise. Drew’s approach flips the model, taking the message directly into everyday spaces like roads, parking lots, and neighbourhoods.

Breaking the Silence Around Suicide Prevention Programs

Drew’s campaign also promotes Man Down UK, a local group focused on men’s mental health and suicide prevention programs. His goal is to make it easier for men to talk. “With the death rate getting higher, I wanted men to know it’s okay to speak up,” he said. “If I’m having a bad day, I now know I have people I can talk to. Before, I did what most people do, I said nothing.”

A Grassroots Lesson for Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

Drew’s car may look simple, but it highlights a bigger shift in how awareness works. Traditional campaigns rely on ads, events, and digital outreach. But Drew’s approach, a physical, mobile message, taps into something more immediate: human connection.

It’s a reminder for non-profits and organizations working in non-profit fundraising strategy that visibility doesn’t always require large budgets. Sometimes, it starts with one person willing to act.

His car keeps moving, so does the message. “No matter how bad you feel, there is always someone willing to listen,” he said.

And for those who see it, whether in traffic or by chance, it may be the moment they decide to reach out.

Read also: Luxury, speed, and loss: The dark side of football’s car culture