Ben Eva is one of our many wonderful fundraisers who participated in this year’s Plank Up the Volume Challenge. We reached out to him to give us an insight into his experience!

What motivated you to sign up for the Plank Up the Volume challenge?

Like so many others, I’ve been directly and constantly affected by struggles with mental health. I was also the type of person to keep that hidden, never really seeking help when I probably needed it. For as long as I can remember, my family has been pretty affected by mental health issues. Not long ago, I lost a friend to suicide as well.

Surfing soon became an outlet during my tough times. Once I found Waves of Wellness, I wanted to do anything I could to spread the name and motivate those who feel as though they don’t have an outlet, helping them realise that they truly do!

Tell us a bit about yourself…

After growing up in Melbourne and living in the US, all the changes to my environment and life situation left me feeling pretty mentally scattered by the time I moved home. I ended up cutting myself off from so many people who were closest to me, right to the point where I had to set up alarms to remind me to respond to my friends contacting. Even though there were good times, I was in a dark place, losing pretty much all the drive in my life and I couldn’t seem to understand why.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, I was lucky enough to move to Queensland – a place I’d always wanted to end up if I was living in Australia again. Because I could work remotely and travel to the North-East coast regularly, I finally got the ‘spark’ for surfing back. The effects of this changed so many elements of my life; it gave me motivation, goals, mindfulness and gratitude. Surfing somehow gave me that outlet without needing to speak to anyone, also allowing me to open my mind up enough to do so.

After travelling around Queensland and getting into the water more, I found myself re-connecting with friends and family I’d push aside which meant the world to me. During this time, I also re-discovered my passion and purpose for helping people and giving back in a way – I have since firmly set my sights on becoming a firefighter and am working towards it. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a big new group of friends to play football, some of whom have become very close friends with. I’m now happier and healthier than I’ve ever been and I owe it all to the ocean and a weird little stick with some fins attached to it. It’s funny that the thing that opened my eyes to how many amazing people I had in my life was being out in the ocean completely on my own.

What have been some positive effects on your own mental health from participating in this challenge?

Unexpectedly, just being able to open up about mental health and spread awareness has had such a positive affect on my own mental health. Since closing off for so long, I never released how therapeutic acknowledging the quiet battles you’ve fought are, putting yourself out there in the process. I still think there’s a strange stigma around mental health – breaking that down and acknowledging it is just as important as physical health is to me.

Ben pushing for that nine minute plank during Plank Up The Volume!

What were the most challenging and rewarding parts of the challenge?

For me, the most challenging part has been pushing for the full 9 minute plank! Some of my mates said they’d double their donation if I could get to that mark by day 18; I’m still pushing for it (and I’ll double it myself if I can’t get there). The most rewarding part is having the opportunity to represent an organisation that stands for something so important to me!

What has been your favourite part of the challenge?

Without a doubt, the messages I received from those I’ve been lucky enough to donate through WOW. It’s meant the world to me with friends and work colleagues reaching out to let me know how their lives have been affected by suicide and mental health issues.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining the planking challenge in the future

Don’t even hesitate – DO IT!

9 minutes is nothing in terms of planking, but during those 9 minutes each day you get so much perspective by just thinking about what you’re truly doing it for- the 9 people we lose each day. Having a bit of pain in your abs for a 9-18 days is nothing compared to the pain of the people who felt like they didn’t have a way out.

Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey, Ben! There is still time to donate to Ben’s Plank Up The Volume challenge here.

Surf More, Worry Less: We Chat to Plank Up The Volume's Ben Eva