- March 7, 2024
- Posted by: SportsV
- Categories: Home News, Industry News, News, Press Releases
Arena has joined forces with leading mental health and suicide prevention charity Beder to help challenge the stigma surrounding these important societal issues.
As part of the new partnership, Beder FC – a grassroots football club which aims to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention through playing football – will wear Arena’s logo on its shirt at the Mental Health World Cup on May 11 and for future fixtures.
On 11 May, the main 5 a-side tournament will see nearly 400 players representing 48 world nations compete in 150 matches in addition to a star-studded charity football match as Beder FC take on a Rest of the World XI. Former Premier League and international footballers, plus leading content creators and well-known personalities, will take to the pitch at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium.
Beder was founded by Razzak Mirjan in memory of his brother Beder, who made the unexpected decision to take his own life at 18 in April 2017. As well as the football team, the charity also offers free therapy sessions to people struggling with their mental health through its Beder Therapy Voucher initiative.
Paul Berger, CEO of Arena, said:
Beder is an outstanding charity and we’re proud to sponsor their fantastic football club.
We are committed to raising awareness of mental health with our staff – via Mental Health First Aiders, coffee mornings and our employee assistance programme – but there is always more we can do.
Working with Beder offers us an important opportunity to continue this journey both within Arena and further afield, and we’re looking forward to a long and successful partnership.
Razzak Mirjan, Founder of Beder, said:
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Arena into the Beder family and greatly appreciate their generous support.
This partnership feels like a really authentic fit, given Beder’s work in the world of sport and Arena’s readiness to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention, so we are excited to start working together and include Arena as a sponsor of Beder FC.
Tickets for the Mental Health World Cup 2024 are now on sale here: https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2024/february/16/the-mental-health-world-cup/