The Small Monsters Project is back for its second year. Cyclocross privateer, Ben Frederick, is continuing his mental health awareness campaign by dedicating his upcoming season to raising funds for Love Your Brain Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of those affected by Traumatic Brain Injuries. 2021 was a great year for Ben. He was able to raise over $20,000, race all of the US World Cups and won the Single Speed National Championship.
This year, Ben will be wearing his monsters on his sleeve with his Small Monsters Project jersey bearing depictions of his monsters by Alex Carlson representing the trials of mental health. "After my TBI, I struggled with depression and anxiety which took root in an eating disorder that hospitalized me. My road to recovery and acceptance began when I was able to look my Monsters in the face and learn to live with them. The first step was the scariest, but with the help of my friends, family and professionals, I learned to live with my monsters. To walk alongside them. To have them in the open, not hidden away where they can grow and take hold."