More than £2,500 raised for mental health charity in memory of young crash victim
Family, friends and a wider community have helped raise more than £2,500 in memory of a kind-hearted Dudley teenager who always tried to help those in need.
Selfless Ben Corfield, aged 19, died in November last year after being hit by a car in Oldbury., in an incident that also claimed the life of his friend Liberty Charris. Since Ben's death £2,693 – and counting – has been raised in tribute to him.
And the money raised will be donated to The What? Centre, a charity which aims to help youngsters aged between nine and 25 with their mental health.
His father Damian Corfield, a councillor in Dudley, said: "So far we've raised £2,693.40, but the money is still coming in. It's going to be donated to The What? Centre, a charity that specialises in helping young people with mental health – and this was something close to Ben's heart.
"He battled with mental health himself and they gave him great help and gave him that ability to help others. He was a truly amazing young man and he was the type of lad who didn't want acknowledgement for his actions, he just wanted to help others."
Damian said the youngster was a strong believer in mental health support and early intervention – and was a person who always wanted to serve his community.
"We come from a family focused on community representation," Damian said. "And he was keen to do that. He ran as a council candidate a few times and he was due to run in our ward again this year," he added.
"Giving back was a big part of Ben's life and for us, as parents, we've come to know sides of Ben we didn't know before. People have come to us in large numbers and we were really taken aback by that."
Damian said they had been contacted by a couple who had expressed suicidal thoughts and had been helped by Ben. The 19-year-old had spent time with them and talked them through it.
The father added he wanted to thank JT Brookes, The Dudley Arms, the Black Country Wellbeing Centre, Rev Rich Hacket, Rose Cook Monk, Ben's friends, his bearers Louis, Josh, Billy, Charlie, Cory and Bryn, everyone who has shown support and donated and everyone who came to the funeral to celebrate Ben's life.
Anyone wishing to donate should email damiancorfield40@gmail.com.
