March Madness is here, which means one thing: it’s time to fill out your bracket. Each year over $9 billion dollars is spent around the globe as fans place bets in their quest for the perfect bracket. While over 70 million brackets get filled out during the month of March, there has never officially been a perfect bracket recorded.
In the midst of all of the excitement and drama that comes along with the annual NCAA men’s college basketball tournament, there is one particular bracket challenge that is looking to raise money for a totally different purpose than personal riches.
Enter Lafe Benson.
Benson, an Owensboro resident, together with his buddy Josh Lambert, has created an outlet for those looking to raise awareness for suicide prevention. The two were inspired to do so after the loss of a dear friend and Owensboro native, Jim Howard. Howard, a pastor who served at Owensboro Chrstian Church from 1994-99 tragically took his own life after a lifelong mental health battle.
Each year during March, the pair monitor a GoFundMe page (link at the bottom of the article) for donations. Anyone who chooses to donate at least $5 is sent a link to fill out a men’s college basketball bracket. Since the 2020 tournament did not take place due to Covid-19, 2019 was the last and only time the bracket challenge was able to happen. That year, Benson says the GoFundMe collected almost $1500 for Vibrant Emotional Health, the administrative organization that runs the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline).
It was Jim Smith, of Lexington, who was the inaugural champion in 2019. Fittingly, Smith was a lifelong friend of Howard’s as well. This year Benson and Lambert are hoping to raise even more money and awareness for the same great cause.
“Our goal is to raise another $1000 with the bracket challenge this year,” Benson said. “Our real goal, though, is to honor our friend Jim. We hope that in some way we can prevent another suicide from happening. If, in memory of Jimmy, we could save a life, that would mean the most to us.”
Howard, described as a larger-than-life personality that was always good for a laugh, is dearly missed by friends and family all over the country. After leaving Owensboro before the turn of the century, Howard pursued ministry positions in Texas, Florida and most recently, California.
“Jim was such a vibrant ball of energy,” Benson says. “When he came into a room, you knew it. I think his personality was what made him such a great children’s minister. There are still people in town today who talk about some of the events he put on for kids at the church. One in particular that stands out is when he set up a wrestling ring in the kids’ room and put on a simulated match. Jimmy was such a good guy with a good heart and we miss him like crazy.”
In memory of Jim Howard, Benson said he and his buddies will be gathered around TV’s at Beef O’ Brady’s this weekend, cheering on their picks. The establishment is owned by another great friend of Jim Howard, Barry Bratcher.
If you would like to get involved with this year’s iteration of The Jimmy Memorial Trophy, you can follow the link at the bottom of the page.
If you or anyone you know is currently experiencing suicidal thoughts, please consider calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or consider reaching out to someone you love. Don’t wait, your life is precious and meaningful and you are never alone, despite whatever it is that you may be going through.
Get involved with the tournament challenge here: The Jimmy Memorial Trophy Part #2, organized by Lafe Benson.
