Ben May & Nichole Almond. (Photo courtesy of Bob Yoder/Redmond Neighborhood Blog)

A fund in memory of Davidson native Ben May, who passed away in Seattle in March at the age of 31, has raised nearly $20,000 for the advancement of mental health care. The Benjamin Lewis May Fund remains open.

Word of the fund’s progress came from an official at Wake Forest University, Ben May’s alma mater, which is administering the fund. Nichole Almond, Ben’s girlfriend, also provided an update in a note to members of the “In Memoriam of Ben May” group on Facebook, where nearly 3,000 friends and family have posted remembrances and notes since he passed away.

Mr. May took his own life in a Redmond, Wash., park, where his body was found on March 13. He had been suffering severe depression and left behind a note.

He had moved to the Seattle area, and worked as a data management analyst at Starbucks Coffee Co. in 2008-9.

In a note to friends Wednesday, Ms. Almond said: “Words cannot express my gratitude for all the donations given to the Benjamin Lewis May Fund thus far. The fund has reached almost $20,000 which is truly remarkable and such a testament to Ben and the lives he touched. So on behalf of Ben’s family and me, thank you all for your generosity, I know Ben would be truly honored.

“I know I will continue to give to Ben’s fund in the years to come not only because he was the love of my life and because I want to honor his memory but because there is such an immense need for funds dedicated to the advancement of mental health care, especially at such a critical time in a student’s life. I too have suffered from depression and with the continuing support of donors like you, we can help prevent losing truly amazing people like Ben,” Ms. Almond said.

WANT TO HELP?

Memorial contributions, which will go to the “advancement of mental health care,” may be sent to: The Benjamin Lewis May Fund, Wake Forest University, PO Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. There’s also an online donation button on the Facebook page in his memory, CLICK HERE>

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Read previous coverage of Ben May on DavidsonNews.net, CLICK HERE>