Ben's Memorial Mile To Raise Awareness For Mental Health

DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- In 2009, Benjamin Lee Silver was a star runner on the cross country and track and field teams at Downers Grove North with a promising future ahead of him at Miami University in Ohio. Just over six years later, haunted by depression and loneliness, and struggling with schizophrenia, Ben took his own life. The Fourth Annual Ben's Memorial Mile, planned for June 15 at Downers Grove North, honors Ben's resilience and aims to raise awareness for others dealing with mental illness.

According to the Ben's Memorial Mile website, the pressure of maintaining a college scholarship while excelling at running and academics began to weigh on Ben, who attempted suicide in 2013. Ben's subsequent recovery was fraught with difficulty as he and his family fought to find him adequate mental health care before his life came to its untimely end.

To date, Ben's Memorial Mile has raised more than $50,000 to help aid mental health research. Downers Grove Mayor Bob Barnett recently proclaimed June 15, the day of the race, as Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Day in Downers Grove.

Ben's Memorial Mile honors Silver's love of running with an open mile run, an 800-meter group run, 100-meter kids' run, a 400-meter senior citizen run, and other themed races and relays. The event also pays tribute to Silver's fun-loving spirit with a dance lesson, a scavenger hunt, and a bags tournament.

A bake sale will be held during Ben's Memorial Mile and Family Festival, along with a raffle. Raffle prizes include Chicago White Sox tickets, autographed Chicago Bulls and Bears Memorabilia, gift certificates to local restaurants, and more.

Ben's family will address the crowd to talk about Ben's life, followed by speeches from representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Hope for the Day, a mental health outreach program focused on suicide prevention.

After the races, head to Cadence Kitchen for an after-party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Before the race, Pierce Tavern is hosting a party on June 14 at 9 p.m. with live music from Megan Pennington, Jack The Acquaintance, Jim Andrews Band, Rockapedia.

Proceeds from the race and parties benefit mental health research and education in Ben Silver's memory. As the race website states, " [W]e come together to renew old bonds, create new golden memories, and raise awareness for mental health."

What: Ben's Memorial Mile and Family Festival

When: June 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Downers Grove North, 4436 Main St., Downers Grove

It's free to watch the races during Ben's Memorial Mile. You can also take part in the festivities by paying $25 to take part in unlimited races. The cost goes up to $30 if you register on race day.