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RIOTBANANAS RAISES £2,118 FOR MINDOUT
STEVE FROM RIOTBANANAS
) RiotBananas, which streams all sorts of games over Twitch, raised £2,118 for LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut last month with a 12-Hour/12 Month Anniversary gaming stream. Steve from RiotBananas said: “RiotBananas is a bit of an online alter-ego, a silly name I chose to use years ago for various gaming services that just kind of stuck. It’s been a great outlet for my creativity and mental health. The 12-hour stream was absolutely amazing, the support came in immediately, I had only set a £500 goal for the entire 12 hours and we smashed through that within the first hour or so and I had to increase the goal to £1,500, which we then smashed through again. It was so heart-warming to see our amazing community come together in what have been difficult times for every one of us. “I chose MindOut for a few reasons. A couple of years ago my cousin, who had recently come out as gay, took his own life. I can only imagine the pain he was in and I really wanted to help support people in similar positions so that other families may not lose a loved one who could be helped by having someone relatable to talk to in such difficult times. Mental health is such a big part of my stream, the community and Twitch in general, as is making the community a safe, welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community so helping MindOut felt like the perfect fit.” D For more info on MindOut, visit: www.mindout.org.uk T Follow RiotBananas on Twitter: @RiotBananas D And on Twitch: www.twitch.tv/riotbananas
EOTT RAISES £320 FOR MINDOUT ) Eott, the mental health-driven music and art project, raised £320 for LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut last month with £5 from each Pride u k, g? T-shirt sold going to the charity. Also included with each tee was an interview (by form of a booklet) with Freddie Martin, who shed some light on being an LGBTQ+ DJ. Eott wants to thank Tom Bickerstaff for largely helping write the questions. Levvy from Eott said: “Given it was a Pride T-shirt, we thought it made sense for anyone buying one to know that it's going towards a relative cause. MindOut was on our minds since the inception of this project, as we'd heard of it from a friend, so we did a little research and made a phone call. We spoke to Lucy Kamper (business development manager at MindOut) quite a bit over the course of the project, she was really great. We found out a nice bit about them and what they do and how they've been doing it, and they've been running also for 20 years which is mad! “Lucy also kindly detailed to us the different areas that the charity money can be focused on so that helped us come to a more specific decision; of supporting the counselling sessions. Our donation funded 25-30 sessions, which is pretty positive we think. Respect to Lucy and MindOut!” F For more info on Eott, visit: www.facebook.com/eott.uk D For more info on MindOut, visit: www.mindout.org.uk
COMMUNITY RAISES £5,500 FOR MISS JASON ) Last month the community raised over £5,500 for Miss Jason, one of our most dazzling cabaret stars and a pillar of LGBTQ+ communities. Miss Jason went deaf in their left ear in July. Following an examination, it was confirmed that Jason has a tumour which has killed off the localised nerve endings and the only treatment is with hearing aids. Jason is currently suffering with tinnitus, affecting the ability to listen and Miss Jason said: “Thanks to all for your concentrate. This has also had a knock- kindness and support, I can now make on effect on their balance. plans to get back to work, on stage where I love to be. I will never be able The funds raised will now help Miss Jason purchase a Bluetooth hearing aid, to thank you enough and I will never forget what you as a community have which they can connect to sound systems within venues, allowing them to done for me. Love and gratitude from the bottom of my heart.” perform their regular cabaret show and
MISS JASON & CHESTER
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starring role in panto. The clinic Jason attended said this will also correct their ongoing tinnitus and balance issues.
F Follow Miss Jason on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Miss-Jason184041121658881/
MR BRIGHTON BEAR 2020 CONTESTANTS DONATE £130 TO BRIGHTON RAINBOW FUND ) Mr Brighton Bear 2020 winner Gavin Bennett and runner-up Rhykar Bauer have both donated their winnings (a total of £130) to The Brighton Rainbow Fund. Graham Munday, chair of Brighton Bear Weekend, said: “In these challenging times, we’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our contestants, showing their support of our community by donating to the Brighton Rainbow Fund. This is yet another virtue that we prize in our Mr Brighton Bear winners." The Brighton Rainbow Fund provides grants to local LGBTQ+ community groups and HIV/Aids charities, to support frontline services. With many sources of fundraising income not available this year due to Covid-19, the
Brighton Rainbow Fund is in need of further support . You can donate here: www.brightonbearweekend.com D For info on the Brighton Rainbow Fund, visit: www.rainbow-fund.org
MR BRIGHTON BEAR 2020 RECEIVES PORTRAIT FROM LITTLE BIG MEN DRAWINGS ) Gavin Bennett, Mr Brighton Bear 2020 winner, received part of his prize, a portrait by Fraser Dickson of Little
Big Men Drawings, last month. Graham Munday, chair of BBW, said: “Massive thanks to the uber-talented Fraser Dickson of Little Big Men Drawings for kindly donating an exclusive portrait of the winner, part of first prize in the Mr Brighton Bear 2020 competition.” I To order a copy, visit @littlebigmendrawings D For more info on BBW, visit: www.brightonbearweekend.com
