The Riverbend Music Center will host a memorial on Aug. 12 to “remember Chester Bennington and all he has done for us as fans, soldiers and admirers,” the Facebook event page reads. The memorial stems from a Change.org petition proposing the venue “take this opportunity to host a benefit for suicide awareness and prevention.” Cincinnati’s Q102 radio DJ Mollie Watson will livestream the event on Facebook, and representatives from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and mental health awareness nonprofit Celebrating Restoration will take part.
The memorial is completely nonprofit and organized entirely by fans. Organizers have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the event and will donate all proceeds to Music for Relief, which now funnels into the One More Light Fund in Bennington’s honor.
The Linkin Park singer was found dead in his Los Angeles home on July 20 at 41 years old. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled the death a suicide by hanging. The band has since created a website dedicated to its frontman that includes phone numbers to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Crisis Text Line, as well as a link to resources for support outside of the United States.
“Linkin Park created a sense of community among its fans, and we want to open our arms to you, whether you were a fan or not,” the Facebook event page for Bennington’s memorial continues. “Help us remember an amazing humanitarian and spread awareness for a cause so many of us struggle with. Come join our family.”